If a tree falls in a forest, and nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Answer 1

It depends on your definition of sound. If you consider sound to be the vibrations that travel through the air when something disturbs them, then yes. The falling tree will still cause a distortion in the air around it that will move outwards from its point of origin in a wave.

However, if you consider sound to be what our brain percieves when aforementioned vibrations reach our eardrum and are interpreted into electronic impulses, then no, since no one is around to percieve the vibrations.

Answer 2

I don't think so, as it is not actually the tree that makes the sound but rather the ground where the tree lands and anything else that may be in between the tree and the ground. However, technically, a sound is made when the tree falls, even if it is not in a forest.

Answer 3

I have asked this question before... No one is able to give me a perfect answer becuase this is a koan.

The fact is the tree has fallen in the forest, whether it produce a sound a not, it doesn't matter.

Answer 4

it creates sound waves, but the "sound" doesnt happen until a human is there to hear it. so technically, a tree that falls in a forest with no1 around does not make a sound, it just makes sound waves that no1 hears

Answer 5

of corse if a tree falls it's going to make a sound a sound an animal is going to hear it.

Answer 6

if you were out in the woods screaming but no one was around to hear you, do you make a sound

yes you do therefore the tree does to

Answer 7

how would it ever be able to prove that maybe when a tree falls when no one is around the soundwaves do not form..... no one can say i am wrong cause there is no way to prove it

Answer 8

Yes, the sound waves are still created even though no ears perceive them.

Answer 9

Yup

Answer 10

Yes.