Since sound is the perception of vibrations through the sense of hearing, , how can there be a sound if there is no ear (no human - no animal at all) to transfer that vibration into a sound?
There would still be a vibration but not a sound, since sound occurs in the ear...right?
2007-05-23 19:20:28 · 9 answers · asked by Dee 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
KatieCSki:
What about low and high frequency vibrations in air that cannot be heard by humans...are those sounds are not?
If those are NOT sounds, then how can the vibration of a tree falling be classified as a sound if there is no one there to transfer the vibration into a sound which is something that occurs in the ear.
2007-05-23 19:30:49 · update #1
It would make the same sound it would make if there was a human to hear it. If you placed a tape recorder near the tree before it fell, then went away, then came back after the tree fell down and listened to the recording, you would hear the sound of the tree falling. Thus proving that it does make a sound.
However, if the recording was blank then you could also prove that it does not make a sound.
Or you could ask the question: "If a mime died in the forest, would anyone care".
2007-05-24 09:02:37 · answer #1 · answered by yuntaa_dba 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that would depend on your definition of sound. that is the reason this question is used as a philosophical question; it can be argued either way. If you classify sound as a vibration then it does make a sound. If you define sound as the interpretation by a human/ animal as a neurological response to vibrations then it does not make a sound if no human/animal is present.
2007-05-24 02:26:26 · answer #2 · answered by kolo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound is produced due to perception vibrations. Weather there is any ear to hear it or not. Sound will be preoduced but it will not reach to any ear and it will be lost in the atmosphare..
2007-05-24 02:32:17 · answer #3 · answered by Zeeshan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your definition of sound is not right. Sound is vibrations in a media (air, water, even solid materials). And for you added question, yes, it is still sound even if it is off the scale of human hearing. Think of dog whistles people can't hear. Think of a hard-of-hearing person sitting next to you.
If you want my personal opinion, the so-called "philosophical" nonsense about the sound not being there if no one hears it, is plain wacko and and anthropomorphic.
2007-05-24 09:20:19 · answer #4 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound is the vibration, not the perception.
2007-05-24 02:23:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
there will still be sound just not far enough for an ear to hear
2007-05-24 02:24:23 · answer #6 · answered by kobe*mvp'09 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it doesn't. And every night when I fall asleep, the whole world goes away until I need it again.
2007-05-24 17:29:40 · answer #7 · answered by wayfaroutthere 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i say there is a sound....think about it.....if it fell and you were there it would make a sound...if it fell and you were 500 miles away..it will still make a SOUND but no one would HEAR it..you definition of sound is whack
2007-05-24 02:27:01 · answer #8 · answered by katiecski 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, that's the answer.
2007-05-24 02:23:15 · answer #9 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋