If a Tree Falls in the Forest Does it Make a Sound if No One is Around to Hear it?

[Ladypurpulhair]

yes it dos, even the slightest of thinks create sound, their probably weren't any human to hear it but most likely there was some other animal that herd it

[YoungHorusMedia]

I guess the sound codes are there for any instrument capable of picking up sound to pick up but it dissipates so it may never be heard.

[TheRitchardgaleHater]

Are you an albino? I mean there's nothing wrong with it I just want to know, like get it confirmed.

[LuminolBlue]

@TheRitchardgaleHater Yes, I am an albino.

[KBeOKEH]

Your theory or more your opinion falls in the category of quantum physics....there is a sound, but the question is, is there really a tree(s) falling in the forest? Is there really a festival going on in your town? Am I really typing this? Are you real? LOL this is so fun!

[NikesL0L]

No, because the definition of sound is "something that you hear." No one's there to hear the tree fall, so the tree doesn't make a sound. This answer is valid as long as no details are observed technically.

[APaleDot]

This entire paradox is a result of conflicting definitions. It is clear that, given a self-consistent definition of what a 'sound' is, a tree falling in the forest doesn't make a sound.

A similar question can show the inconsistency in your argument:

If a tree falls in the forest, and there are no synesthetes around to perceive it, does it make a color?

[Unleasher619]

Hello :)

The tree produces a sound if a human or animal is around. Sound is defined by (google) as:

"Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear."

Therefore a human or animal must be around in order for the falling tree to make a sound.

If the question asked whether it still produced vibrations in the air, the answer is yes. Sound itself describes the relationship between its generation and interpretation.

[STATiSofVITALETHICS]

I dont think the tree makes a sound (in the sense that our ears convert it so our brains can pick it up...but it does make a soundWAVE...the question itself is not very specific lol

[dankm85]

But the question is "if no one is there to hear it" For instance if as you say as for a instance a carnival there are people there to actually hear the sounds of the carnival, a carnival has to have people there so of course the sound exists then. But what if there is a event somewhere"tree falling or whatever" that no living soul is present there at this event to actually hear it, how can the sound actually exist?

[STATiSofVITALETHICS]

@dankm85 the sound exists in waves, our ears just havent converted them yet

[dankm85]

@STATiSofVITALETHICS But there are only these "waves" not sound unless someone is there to hear it

[STATiSofVITALETHICS]

@dankm85 yea but theyre SOUNDwaves....its a type of sound

[dankm85]

@STATiSofVITALETHICS They maybe sound"waves" but unless you actually can hear it. It will remain that. Waves. Sound is something you actually can hear.

For instance

the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air or other medium.=Sound

Without this stimulation of the organs,meanig "ears+brain picking up the way+intepret/translate it. there is no sound.

[STATiSofVITALETHICS]

@dankm85 actually sound is defined as a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas so technically the tree does produce a sound, regardless if our ears are there to convert it. Its sort of a trick question, is the question asking about sound before or after it is converted by our ears.

[Unleasher619]

@STATiSofVITALETHICS

Hello

Looks like you've been doing some research on wikipedia :D

If you read a little further (in the same sentence) it actually states "within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations." -- meaning something needs to be around to hear it.

[STATiSofVITALETHICS]

@Unleasher619 so until then i guess its just defined as sound waves

[hrantnano]

@STATiSofVITALETHICS

it is not

[STATiSofVITALETHICS]

@hrantnano it is not what

[MrShinjiTabris]

Schrödinger's cat

[awaud55]

@giuffre714 yes it makes a sound. There are still sound waves like you said and it makes a sound but a brain doesn't have to hear it? Maybe one of the birds out there registered the sound waves into their brain, idk but it still makes sound. Next...

[snorri500]

You are right of course. A falling tree does make a sound. Doesnt matter if no one is around to hear it, the sound exists nevertheless.

However, someone has to be around for the sound to be heard, but that of course is a different story.

[giuffre714]

The waves/vibrations happen. There is no doubt about that. They happen even if there is no one around. Sound however requires a brain. If there is no brain to interpret those waves/vibrations there is no sound, just waves/vibrations. So, the answer is no. Next.

[scrappypoop]

yes, it makes a sound. it is a relevant question of wether a sound is a technical detail, nearly a matter of perception, now if you are counting it as a matter of perception then yes, somebody has to be there to hear it. but if you are counting the sound as a manipulation of airwaves and molecules

bouncing off eachother, then no, nobody has to be there for a sound to exist.

[DooomPenguin]

Honestly, you didn't need a 4 minute video, it depends whether you see it as a matter of perception or a technical detail. If you see it as a matter of perception then yes, someone has to be there to hear it but if you classify sound as the manipulation of airwaves and molecules bouncing off each other then no, one has to hear it.

[Forman6]

@DooomPenguin It obviously makes a sound.

I do not know why it is difficult to see.

Sound is a form of energy.

A tree falls, transforming potential energy into kinetic, hitting the ground, thus losing some as heat and sound.

Even if no Homo Sapien is around the laws of physics still stand, the energy gets converted into sound.

So yes it does make a sound.

[whitneyslover123]

This is so interesting. I love things like this. They boggle your mind. Even if there is a clear explanation, you can always have other opinions, and all of that. Awesome video!

[LuminolBlue]

@whitneyslover123 Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[LuminolBlue]

@lizasartre No I think you said it quite well. Thanks!

[TheGhettoMuffin]

Thats why music is so special. People are ' machines ' that read the soundwaves, those soundwaves trigger different emotions, without us,  music would be just pure physics.

[LuminolBlue]

@TheGhettoMuffin Hmm... Interestingly put!