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

[blackshark121]

Search bar approved, last topic was half a year ago.

What is sound? The interpretation of vibrations in a medium by the ear. When I hit my hand on a table, it creates vibrations in the table and air. The vibrations in the air travel and reach my ear, where it is interpreted by the brain as sound. Thus, if the vibrations aren't interpreted as sound, then it doesn't make a sound, right? Just vibrations, right?

 

[DanielPowell33]

I think your right, right?

 

[Amnestic]

In before arguing over semantics of the term 'sound vibrations' and whether they constitute as actual sound.

Thinking about it, that'll be the entire thread.

I'm going to go with 'No'.

 

[Hippobatman]

Yeah, it's relative to each and another's definition, but by the technical approach vibrations are sound even though nobody hears it.

Also, if you observe one thousand trees falling and conclude that every single one made a noise breaking, why on earth shouldn't the one that nobody's around be any different. Of course it makes a sound.

 

[Pielikey]

I believe it has to bounce off an ear drum before it's considered a sound. Otherwise it's just air vibration.

 

[grimsprice]

Good on ya. Sounds like you figure it out.

 

[Robert632]

it makes a sound, just no one hears it. and if you don't count animals in the term no one, then they hear it.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

No it doesn't necessarily make a sound but besides that point this question is not meant to be taken literally it is a metaphorical question.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Yes, It makes a sound. Does any PERSON hear it, no.

 

[Poofs]

it makes sound waves
and anything that makes sound waves makes a sound
also i guarantee some animal heard it

 

[Xaryn Mar]

To be precise it makes a sound since sound is the vibrations. It also creates heat since heat is also vibrations (and movement of molecules).

 

[Captain Pancake]

Yep, I think you're right.

 

[Sentient6]

Wrong. Sound IS the vibration of particles (mind you ANY particles, not just air) that moves in waves away from the whatever caused the sound. So even if there's no one to hear the tree falling, it still produces the said vibrations, meaning it does make a sound. Doesn't matter if anyone hears it or not.

 

[Simriel]

Ah young grasshopper you forget the more important question. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it does a bear shit in the woods?

 

[Dusty Donuts]

Wrong. Sound IS the vibration of particles (mind you ANY particles) that moves in waves away from the whatever coursed the sound.

So therefore, it makes a freaking sound. I've had to answer this damned question before, it's a sound if it doesn't bounce off eardrums, and it's a sound if it does. Why on earth would bouncing a sound of eardrums make it a sound rather than it bouncing off anything else. Think a radio playing when no-one is around to hear it. The radio's making sounds isn't it?

 

[Ekonk]

Fuck this. If a meteorite slams into Titan where, by defenition, no-one is around to hear it, does it make sound?

Spoiler

OF COURSE IT FUCKING DOES.

 

[EeveeElectro]

No, the question is, if it falls over, do the other trees laugh at it?

 

[TheSeventhLoneWolf]

Sound is carried through the air molecules which stimulate and vibrate to carry it to your ear, I think. I'm not a 'super-awesome-physics-superhero' like Gordon Freeman, so i think you're right.

 

[Nickolai77]

If a man voices is alone in a forest with no women around, is he still wrong?