if a tree falls in a forest and no one else is around does it make a sound?

Question

well does it? be very specific. i think that i am confused right no. please help, and leave the sarcasim and joking behind it won't do you any good, no one is laughing!

Answer 1

THIS is such an old ? im tired of awnsering it

Answer 2

It is all tied in with the meaning of the word sound.

One definition of the word sound tells us that sound is a vibration in the air.

Another definition tells us that it is something that an ear hears when the vibration is present.

The answer if you are using the first definition is probably yes.

The answer if you are using the second definition is definitely no.

There is however a third possible answer. This answer asks us if the reality that the tree exists in, actually exists external to the mind that thinks the tree exists.

This is more easily understandable if one considers the actual scale of the components of an atom. If one takes into account the fact that the neutrons, protons and electrons of an atom actually have huge spaces between them it becomes clear that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are made up of 99+ percent empty space.

This alone does not seem too important till you add the idea that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are more of a loose conglomeration that share a similar attraction but never really touch each other.

At first glance this does not really seem relevant, but closer analysis reveals that this adds a tremendous amount of empty space to solid objects that are already made up of atoms that are 99 percent space. When so-called solid objects are seen in this light it becomes apparent that they can in no way be the seemingly solid objects they appear to be.

We ourselves are not exceptions to this phenomenon.

These seemingly solid objects are more like ghostly images that we interpret as solid objects based on our perceptual conclusions.

From this we must conclude that Perception is some sort of a trick that helps us to take these ghostly images and turn them into a world we can associate and interact with. This clever device seems to be a creation of our intellect that enables us to interact with each other in what appears to be a three dimensional reality.
So if you get the connection, the real question may be does the tree even actually exist in the way we think that it exists.

I hope that answered your question.


Love and blessings Don

Answer 3

It will produce sound waves. If nothing is around to hear it then I don't think it would be registered as sound however in the forest there is almost always something around to hear. I my deer stand I hear birds, squirrels, and other animals. One time a buck was walking through the woods and I thought it was going to come right past me. Then a squirrel dropped a couple of nuts from above him and he took off. So I would say that the animals would definitely hear a tree falling.

Answer 4

Sound [[only]] occurs when the vibrations in the air interact with the mechanisms in our ear. If no ear is present to receive the vibrations or "hear the sound", then the tree falling does not make a sound. So, no, the tree does not make a sound if it falls in a forest and no one is around. However, vibrations in the air do occur when an object collides with another object or number of objects.

Answer 5

Yes it makes nosie.The specifics are pretty simple.It will make a cracking sound then as it's falling it makes a noise as it's hitting the other trees in the forest.Pretty simple huh.Remember just cause your not there to see/hear it happening does not mean that it don't happen.

Answer 6

This is a very interesting question ,I love it!
Anyone who laughs at this question doesnt get the real meaning of existence and especially words.
Yes,if a tree falls when nobody can see it,it has absolutely no sound.Why?
Are we talking about the physical sound or the abstract sound?
the physical sound is the effect of the tree's electrons that friction with the air.
The abstract sound is the presence of a specy which is humans that give birth to words and use them to interpretations.
The abstract sound is what we are talking about and it is what is all is about. we choose to name that electons effect with the air as sound,thus if there is no being who is using that same code,there is no existence of that code,which is sound.
exemple:
sheep eat grass,grass is their food
dogs eat meat,meat is their food
now imagine a plain that is all covered with dogs and in the middle,there is grass.
the dogs are hungry,they are looking for food.
But grass is food also,BUt,not in the language of dogs.
So given that there are no sheep there,grass is not food,it is just grass.
hope this hepled!

Answer 7

i used to be a tree in the amazon forest before i was reincarnated in this life as a very tall human being with rough skin and too much hair ( notice the resemblamce i have with my floral kin? )---and so i fell one day, but i am not sure if any body heard me fall since neither me nor any of my friends had the necessary sensory organs that humans posses, and even if i did have any of this, there wasn't a brain to store information to later access and assure whether i did make any sound or not while i was saying good bye to the world of the standing, ah, sad memories!

Answer 8

Of course, laws of physics, just because no one is around makes no difference. Gravity makes the tree fall to the earth, friction causes the sound vibration. If it was a small tree, doubtful if you were close you would hear much, but to a dog's ears it would be loud.

Answer 9

They're still asking this?

Now think about it; a falling tree does not make sound just for someone to hear. The noise it makes is caused by its actions, and will occur whether anyone (or anything) is around or not. Period.

Answer 10

I would say yes. Not because you or anyone else is not there does not mean some thing will not occur. Think, if you were there to see the tree fall will it not make a sound.

Answer 11

Yes,
when a tree falls it makes sounds like a human being.
When an old tree falls ,the sound is less.