If a tree falls in the middle of the forest, and no one hears it, does it make a sound?

Answer 1

Last year I would have answered like a lot of people here have, and said "Of course it does, it falls and causes the ground to shake (vibrate) and vibrations are sound." But then reading a highly-esteemed philosopher, he argued just the opposite. That sound REQUIRES a listiner. So i guess all this debate is over stupid language :P What i mean it depends on what you mean by "sound." Sound is a signal sent by neuro-transmitters that the brain percieves as sound. So in that retrospect, it doesn't, because there is nothing to percieve the sound. Now if you mean would it contain all the things required to for someone to hear sound if a listener was there, than yes it does.

Answer 2

What kind of question is this?!? Tell me, are you retarded or just being an a s s for asking this? When anything collides with another object (tree, hitting ground) it displaces air molecules causing a series of shockwaves that our ears detect as sound. Yes, the tree makes a sound. You don't hear it, but there is a sound.

Answer 3

Sure it does...

Sound waves would be generated and radiate across the forest floor, even if the human ear didn't pick them up.

You don't believe that human intervention is necessary for the creation of sound do you? The opposite is true. We pick up on sound that is there like the birds and animals and most living thing will. It isn't a human exclusive activity.





g-day!

Answer 4

Unless there's someone there to witness the sound of the tree falling, then there's no one there to interpret the falling of the tree and the sound waves as sound, so the tree doesn't make a sound.

Answer 5

Physics 101. Energy cannot be created or destroyed - only transferred to another form. Just as two cars collide - turning kinetic energy into sound waves, so does a tree make a noise when it falls - with or without your presence. Pax - C

Answer 6

Definitely , for sure, the answer is yes, it made a sound. You just did not hear it, but other creatures did.

Answer 7

Depends how you define sound. It definitely creates the energy waves that the ear interprets as sound.

Answer 8

its voice said to all the ground cover, when i am decomposed, use me to nourish and protect the seedlings when they come, to the animals, use me for shelter from the
cold and protection from the strong, to the birds im glad you
you now live with my younger brothers and sisters, they will
look after you and your family and with no regrets, he thanked
earth mother for his glorious long life, tall, disease free, and
able to enjoy and witness life, in peace, and sighed!YES!!!

Answer 9

Yes!Creatures,critters,and bugs!Perhaps even bigfoot,ghosts,and aliens!

Answer 10

I'm with the first answerer!!! DUH!! Just b/c no one can hear it doesn't mean it doesn't make a sound....