If a tree fell in the forest and no one was around, does it make a sound?

Question

Wow, I was surprised at how many people agreed with me on this one. Of course it makes a sound. First of all, insects and animals can hear it.

And if you want proof, just put a camcorder there, clear out all the people, animal, and insects, and press the record button. The camcorder will record both video and AUDIO. The camcorder will not tell itself - "Hmmm, there is no living form around me, I guess I will turn off the sound". So there is your proof right there. I dare you to debate that if you feel there would be no sound.

Whoever made up that question was smoking something really good and should be tarred and feathered :-)

And for those of you who still think there is no sound, well, I can't help you there.

Answer 1

yes it makes a sound you explained that on your own. the question is why does this one question appear so many times ?? i mean come on do you people never let this sink in to your little heads ? does it go in one ear and out the other ?? sound exists weather people are around or not aways has always will. accept this and move on.

Answer 2

It depends on how you look at it. I can only give an example to try to explain. Okay, say there is person who is both blind and deaf and you do not know they are blind and deaf. You start talking to them, not realizing that they cannot hear or see you. To them, you're not even there. You're not making a sound, you're not taking up space, you're not there because they don't know you are there. To them, you won't be there until you make some kind of physical contact.
We define sound as something we hear. Science tells us what sound is but we don't classify something as a sound unless we can hear it. Another example...you're flipping through channels on the tv and stop on an action scene in a very old movie. It has no sound. You think it's a silent movie. However, your parents are in the other room watching the same movie, only the movie has sound. It's just that your TV is messed up and you don't know that the movie really has sound. To you, there is no sound coming from the movie, therefore it is a silent movie.

I hope you understand what I'm trying to explain. We had a big discussion about this in class a few weeks ago.

Answer 3

You are missing the whole point of that question. That question was around before camcorders and and tape recorders. THe point of the question is, if no one hears it, it's not sound, just sound waves. Of course small animals would hear it. but let's say Nothing is around to hear it; it's not sound just sound waves. Does a deaf person hear sound, The brain has to interpret the sound waves before it is sound and if no one is around to intrepret the sound waves there is no sound..

Answer 4

The point of the question is if there is NOTHING to hear it, does it make a sound. It is a rhetorical question because if NOTHING could hear it, NOBODY could prove it.

Edit (Additional Explanation) : The question is not meant to have a true answer and should not be looked at as such.

Answer 5

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO SUCH THING AS SOUND IN YOUR UNIVERSE ,HORATIO!!BUT I'VE HEARD "BLUE CHEER",JIMI HENDRIX,LED ZEPPLIN,JEFFERSON STARSHIP,THE WHO,VANILLA FUDGE, AND THE BEACH BOYS LIVE AND ON STAGES ALL OVER CALIFORNIA!!AND WHEN NO ONE ELSE WAS LISTENING I HEARD BUUDY MILES AND ELECTRIC FLAG PLAY AT A LITTLE MOTEL OUTSIDE THE RAINY, SMALL "SATSOP" MUSIC FESTIVAL WHERE NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO HEAR IT AND IT WAS MELLOW AND SOULFUL!!AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MISSED!!AND DON'T HAVE ANY CAPACITY TO ACHIEVE AN ENJOYMENT OF SUCH ROYAL PLEASURES;BESIDES WHICH MANY GREATS ARE PASSING AWAY EVERYDAY AND SOON ALL WILL BE SILENT AS MUST WE ALL .SOONER OR LATER!!DON'T QUESTION SOUND;QUESTION SUCH QUESTIONS!!!

Answer 6

The question should be modified to the following: " If a tree fell in the forest, and landed on a street mime, would anyone care?"

Answer 7

Of course it does!