Originally posted by Dance Master MC Does a falling tree make a sound if no one is around to hear it?
I heard this one on TV and it's been puzziling me ever since........
A tree falls and makes sound waves, which is sound. Because your ears cannot pick up those waves doesn't mean there is no sound. Yes, it does make sound.
Originally posted by smw6869 A tree falls and makes sound waves, which is sound. Because your ears cannot pick up those waves doesn't mean there is no sound. Yes, it does make sound.
The answer is: It depends.
It depends on how you define sound. If you define sound as waves of energy traveling through a medium (i.e. air, water etc.) then yes a tree falling in a forest makes a sound regardless of whether anyone is around to hear it.
However, if you define sound as a the creation, transmittance, and reception of these waves of energy then no a tree doesn't make a sound if it falls and no one is around.
Some choose to define sound as waves of energy traveling through a medium, others as the reception of such waves by an ear of sorts and the subsequent interpretation by a neurological system.
It's really quite trivial.
Originally posted by nwapsdrawkcab The answer is: It depends.
It depends on how you define sound. If you define sound as waves of energy traveling through a medium (i.e. air, water etc.) then yes a tree falling in a forest makes a sound regardless of whether anyone is around to hear it.
However, if you define sound as a the creation, transmittance, and reception of these waves of en ...[text shortened]... sorts and the subsequent interpretation by a neurological system.
It's really quite trivial.
An MC is "Master of Ceremonies"
As for the question, there's also several ways to view noise, not just sound, but general effects on its surroundings. I think if we rephrase the question we can come up with an answer.
If an asteroid fell and hit the earth, and no one was around to hear it, would it make a sound?
Given t hat we can see the fossilised remains of fissures caused by shockwaves, then yes! the same could probably be translated for the tree.
"When the concept of atoms wasn't invented, does there exist any atoms then?", "Does pi exist befor man?" If I put my head in a hole, do the problems go by then?", "If I never watch TV, is there then any episode of 'Lost'?"
There is a bunch of questions in the same spirit.
"If the first posting was never written, would there be any thread then?"
Originally posted by nwapsdrawkcab The answer is: It depends.
It depends on how you define sound. If you define sound as waves of energy traveling through a medium (i.e. air, water etc.) then yes a tree falling in a forest makes a sound regardless of whether anyone is around to hear it.
However, if you define sound as a the creation, transmittance, and reception of these waves of en sorts and the subsequent interpretation by a neurological system.
It's really quite trivial.
If I define it has a chicken sandwich, can I eat sound?
Only the first one of those is a standardly accept definition.
I'm sorry, but anyone who says "it doesn't make a sound, think about it and you'll understand" is just trying to be philosophical for a question which doesn't warrant it, and ending up exposing their own ignorance.
Sound is the vibration of particles. If a tree falls over and no human is around to hear it, then any squirrels in the forest still hear it, and a recording device would be able to record it so that a human can listen later.
Also, anything below 20Hz frequency or above 20,000Hz frequency cannot be heard by humans even when humans are very close, but still makes a sound. Pre-natal scanning depends on the fact that there is sound despite the fact humans can't hear it.
Originally posted by doodinthemood I'm sorry, but anyone who says "it doesn't make a sound, think about it and you'll understand" is just trying to be philosophical for a question which doesn't warrant it, and ending up exposing their own ignorance.
Sound is the vibration of particles. If a tree falls over and no human is around to hear it, then any squirrels in the forest still hear ...[text shortened]... l scanning depends on the fact that there is sound despite the fact humans can't hear it.
but, Its not noise!
your in a quiet room all by yourself, there are lots of radio waves going throughout the room, Is it quiet in the room? or noisy?
Originally posted by doodinthemood I'm sorry, but anyone who says "it doesn't make a sound, think about it and you'll understand" is just trying to be philosophical for a question which doesn't warrant it, and ending up exposing their own ignorance.
Sound is the vibration of particles. If a tree falls over and no human is around to hear it, then any squirrels in the forest still hear ...[text shortened]... l scanning depends on the fact that there is sound despite the fact humans can't hear it.
Anyone who takes this thread seriously is trying to sound intelligent for a thread which doesn't warrant it, and ends up exposing their own arrogance. It's a question to amuse children, not a scientific debate. Lighten up people.
Originally posted by BLReid Anyone who takes this thread seriously is trying to sound intelligent for a thread which doesn't warrant it, and ends up exposing their own arrogance. It's a question to amuse children, not a scientific debate. Lighten up people.
Ancient philosophical paradoxes are there to amuse children? 😕
Falling tree makes noise?
18 Jun '07 22:451 edit
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