If a tree falls down in a forest riddle unriddled...

[Lonestarr85]

it's stupid to say something doesn't make a sound just because no one hears it. it's like saying there is no light if no one can see it. and the analogy with radio-waves are just stupid since radio waves are light-waves in a too long wavelength for humans to see but are there regardless.

sound and light are not only the perception, but also the name physical phenomena witch is applied whether one perceives them or not.

[iVampireRAWR]

Of course it makes a sound, the sounds waves are still emitted whether there is anyone there to hear it or not.

[ModernShinobi92]

Great video, that is the true answer. No one is around to HEAR IT,,, or RECIEVE the WAVES. Sound is the outcome after the Waves are INTERPRETED by US... NO SOUND (:

[bball12345100]

Well the way I look at it is... If a tree falls down and no one is there to hear it then does it make a sound. Yes, it would because the main part is if no one is there to hear it, as in if someone was there, they would be able to hear it. So yes, therefore it does make a sound

[VampVince1307]

I knew this when the stupid riddle began. People are twits!

[PhatAfroDude]

what is the song?

[montgonova]

@PhatAfroDude merlins magic

[larkig]

Sounds are a displacement of molecules caused by a change in pressure. Our brains interpret this pressure as sound. So therefore it is perceived as sound. With that said, only those who can perceive this pressure change will interpret it as sound. So no, it would not be heard if it can't be perceived.

[DeathByCake117]

I would say HECK YEA

Thumbs up if you agree :3

[brandondapro]

Creepy video/music...

[YouSpamTard]

I knew what you were getting at from the start with this video, montgonova, but the word sound is just a label for frequencies. You are correct in one way, but lets ask ourselves is an earth quake makes sound. We cant hear it so much as only feel it vibrate. Same with light frequency. We cant see ultraviolet light, but there are animals that can see that frequency. So if a butterfly has ultraviolet wings, and a humming bird can see it, does is mean the butterfly doesnt have ultraviolet wings? :)

[theflyingcatz]

YES! IT WILL MAKE A SOUND! because there are thousands of animals out there who hear it! everything makes a sound! EVERYTHING!!!!!

[ryannewellisg]

@theflyingcatz i agreewith you 100%

[sixten2100]

@theflyingcatz but the riddle said, "in the middle of a forest with no one around an a tree falls doe it still make a sound" basicly since no one is around to hear it (this includes animals) it dosent make a sound, i know this is a very late respond to your comment but still, chuldent resist

[oINS4N3o]

Yes, it makes a sound. Sound is the manipulation of airwaves and molecules bouncing off each other than no, a person doesn't have to be present for a sound to exist. If you beg to differ then go to your google search bar and type in "define: sound" and look at definition 9. "mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium; 'falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them' "

[babykillingspree]

but sound is sound waves bouncing through the particles in the air... no one needs to be there to make that happen :P

[maxen1416]

"Well, you see, it's rather a question whether

sound is a techinical detail or merely a matter of perception.

Now, if you're counting it as a matter of perception,

then yes, someone has to be there to hear it, But for counting the sound as the manipulation of air waves and molecules bouncing off each other, then no, nobody has to be there for a sound to exist."

- Gastro

[kaojonathan]

WTF is this video comparing radio waves to sound waves???? that's ridiculous, sound waves are the compression of air while as radio waves are a type of radiation. FFS simple physics!!!

[bwayne641]

In space, no one can hear you scream .

[oINS4N3o]

@bwayne641 That is because there is no mass. Sound is mechanical energy therefore needing a medium (mass) to exist. In space there is no medium / mass therefore sound cannot travel through it.

[911killer911]

Yes it makes a sound, it's rather a question of if a sound is a technical detail or merely a matter of perception, now if you're counting it as a matter of perception then yes somebody has to be there to hear it, but by counting the sound as a manipulation of airwaves and molecules bouncing off each other then no, nobody has to be there for a sound to exist

[Redrobottyler]

@911killer911 I agree with this guy. Just because you aren't there to hear it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[Maxflay3r]

I dont think so, our ear is made out of membrane that recives it, which is nothing complicated but few parts. Sound waves are "recived" by any matter, they make the membrane shake and the three other small bones make brain recive the shaking intervals, which mean any matter will "shake" in contact with sound waves, so that mean that even fallen leaves or pile of dirt will "recive" sound. Thats atleast what i think.

[HEadshot00001234]

I just came from /watch?v=vFMqWpfZUSw&feature=c­hannel and that one was simpler 

[imacds]

Here is another example:

If a nuke detonates successfully and no one's there to see it, does it make a visible explosion? You would say no because 'sight' is just light unless it's interpreted by a camera or eye. Does it prove or disprove this point?

[blueberryandcacao]

i believe the answer is yes it does make a sound because sound only needs something to bounce off it it, which would be the other trees.... i like genie pixels logic tho ;)

[geniepixels]

Here’s an easy way to understand WHY the answer is "no". Rephrase the question to this:

"If a tree falls in the forest with nobody around to hear it, can anyone HEAR it?" Answer: “no”.

- GeniePixels -

[Snowdemoman]

Which part of sound waves is important.

You guessed it.

"sound" wave.

As in, the sound is there.

You would not want to listen to this video, its based on perception, which is just opinion.

Sound waves and molecules bounce off eachother as stuff makes a sound. Whether you hear it or not, the waves and molecules still respond to it.

[fashnek]

The English in this video is absolutely terrible. And what's the point of making text fade away? Who benefits from having to read on your timing?

[ihavethelastusername]

I always thought of it as more of a philosophical question than a scientific one. To me the question is will the collision between the tree and the ground produce any sound waves if there is no one around? Or more specifically how can you ever be sure that there was a sound?

[tubestick00]

it is no so much a riddle, as a philosophical idea. if any event takes place, and nobody ever knows it happened.....or will ever know it happened, then did it happen?

[CTmera]

Well, you see, it's all a question of whether sound is a technical detail or merely a matter of perception. Now, if you are counting it as a matter of perception, then yes, somebody has to be there in order to hear it, but for counting the sound as the manipulation of air waves and molecules bouncing off each other, then no; nobody has to be there for a sound to exist. (And, yes. I DID get that off the TF2 vid, but it is just too perfect of an answer)

[criminal90210]

So, what you're saying is... my mouse isn't there because I don't hear or see it? Bullshit I say!

[CptnAura]

Yes, the tree does make a sound. Why, because if you were there you would hear it and you would say, "wow that was loud." Regardless of your presence or your perception of reality, the tree will always make the sound.

[andenisa]

@CptnAura The tree only makes a sound because you are there to hear the sound. If you are not there, you can't hear it, so you can't say there was a sound. You can only assume that there was a sound.

[andenisa]

I agree, if I can't hear it, then there's no sound. That's not to say that a sound didn't exist. Someone else may have heard it, like an animal or even another person out hunting or something. But the point is, if I wasn't there to hear it, then I can't say for myself that it made a sound. I can however, assume that it did.

[fashnek]

@andenisa The preconditions are that no creature hears a sound. You are not part of the question, so your perspective is irrelevant.

[andenisa]

@fashnek Thanks for your input here, but I don't agree with it.

[Rubixos]

Its all a question if the sound is a technical detail or a matter of perception.

Now if you count it as a matter of perception, then yes someone has to be there to hear it.

But counting the sound as a manipulation of air waves and molecules bouncing off each other, then nobody has to be there for a sound to exist.

[aLbii666]

@Rubixos Nice, I love that video.

[JaxfirebusIsBack1]

It still DOES make a sound... A sound that no one can hear...

[mogyii]

this is not a scientific or philosophical question.. it was never meant to engage the mind but to stop it. There is no tree, no forest, no person to hear it and this question was never asked. I'm not writing right now and you are not reading. Look up non-duality if you dare losing yourself along with the answer to the question, but you can rest in seeking an answer as there are none. A more direct approach to the same would be asking yourself "who am I" - that you cannot ever answer.

[andya07774]

Of course it makes a sound!

Next time there is a storm near your home stick an MP3 RECORDER is a weather proof container that allows sound in, and leave it outside.

The next day if any trees nearby have been uprooted play the recorder and you will hear a loud thump as the tree hits the ground!

My friend’s son is deaf and if we were together and someone popped a balloon with a pin id jump but he wouldn’t riddle resolved.

[misaleboosted]

getodd.com/stuf/treefall.html

[misaleboosted]

If the same philosophy applies to any object making a sound, then all you would have to do is set up a video camera capturing sed object making the sound. Ie. Set up an apparatus on a timing mechanism that is designed to 'drop' a book at a certain time when nobody would be there. Then, the next day, watch the recording. The sound on the recording you would hear is the sound the book MADE when dropped and nobody was around to hear it.

[tiffad16]

it would be nice if when trying to debate relativity, which is what this amounts to, you could at least use proper english. :57 there should be they're.

[k4cilda]

Yes it makes a sound. It's rather a question whether sound is a techinical detail or merely a matter of perception. Now, if you're counting as a matter of perception then yes, someone has to be there to hear it.But for counting the sound as the manipulation of air waves and molecules bouncing off each other, then no, nobody has to be there for a sound to exist. By: Gastro

[Oicurmtoyoy]

I always wondered why there were no animals in this forest that could hear the sound.

[stuneree2]

As a scientific definition of "sound", it is technically just molecules bouncing off of each other, as all sound is caused by vibration. So for sound to exist, all that needs to be provoked is the manipulation of airwaves.

If a tree falls in a forest, (scientifically), and nobody is there to hear it, then yes, it still makes a sound.

[Snowdemoman]

For the claim of no sound to be true. Cut down a tree in a black hole. The tree will probably be gone WAY before it hits... wait...

Oh yea, it isn't gonna touch anything.

A black hole or wormhole is the only thing that can prove this riddle.

[Snowdemoman]

Are you american? If so, i dont blame you. If not, your dumb.

The only way that no sound would be created, is if there is nothing but the tree. No air, no ground, NOTHING. And how is that possible? Its not.

The "energy waves" your talking about is heard by every single molecul around it. Lets say, the other trees.

Every single molecul, cell, atom, e.t.c. can hear it.

[Rainmaker305]

of course it makes a sound. if you put a video camera or a recorder than it will hear it. sound is not when you hear something, sound is sound. that my understanding.

[stuneree2]

@Rainmaker305 This isn't asking if the sound isn't actually real, because obviously if there is something there to capture it, then it is. But, you are correct, it does make a sound.

[TheDiscoMole]

Sorry but I disagree, you say that it does not make a "sound" as there is supposedly no reciever around. Problem is that the riddle is not exact and can be tampered with, as it says that there is noONE around and not noThing around.

Hence according to your individual perception there could be squirrel, bear or baby around able to hear the sound coming from the tree. (A baby is called a thing)

[hobo74123]

wats this riddle supposed to teach u anyways?

[montgonova]

that, not everything is what it seams

[RainKesk]

@hobo74123 It teaches that if you can't see or hear something then it doesn't exist...

So according to this, it proves god doesn't exist... otherwise it's load of BS.

[fashnek]

@RainKesk No, the argument is that sound by definition is a perception, just like sight. It's an incomplete answer because there are multiple definitions of sound, but the logic is valid for that definition. The trick is that people THINK it's a question about perception being reality, but it's not. It's a question about semantics.

[rismisner]

@hobo74123 it makes you question your definition of what is a "sound"? Everyone agrees that a tree falling in the woods does exist, and does fall, even if nobody observes it, and physicists will show you how this event will create a Sound Wave, which doesn't require a person in the mechanical physics to make it happen, so the answer is obviously "yes it makes a sound." But sound is more than just the mechanical physics of a sound wave. It requires some aesthetic appreciation to become sound.

[megirl14]

if a tree falls in the forest it still makes a sound.. it is not a riddle... but this is... what is today if yesterdays tomorrow?

[montgonova]

Today!

[overguy12]

@megirl14 of course its today because if yesterday is tomorrow then its today

[tennismike22]

but does the audible sound exist?

[iris11un]

and ?? tell me What is meant by this ^_^"

[steshere07]

Yes its like that saying. If you have a glove in a box...is the glove still in the box if you cant see it?

[airinom]

yet, Gaia can hear every utterance of her children

[Shotoran]

lol this was answered on a game

with voice talk TF2

[inlovewithcats]

I like peanuts.

[MartinStuckless2]

pwned

[oniedaman2]

instead ask yourself this, if a bear shits in the forest, when no one is around, can you smell it? didn't think so...

[jnilsen7]

If you want that analogy to accurately represent the riddle, I think you have to say:

"will it still make a smell?" at the end, instead of: "can you smell it?".

And the answer, according to this video, is that a smell isn't a smell until you sniff it. Until then, it's just gases in the air.

[Fatalerror300]

what if you eat it

[Fastdogg562]

If theirs not an observer, then it doesnt happen.

[AnnaKathrynnn]

@Fastdogg562

so if u died, and nobody knew u were dead, ud be alive?{:

[Fastdogg562]

Yup!

[AnnaKathrynnn]

.....lol. okay. <3

[Fastdogg562]

Uhhh....Yeah! dweeb

[montgonova]

Lol you would be alive in the shoes of another that knew you where alive, and anyway your body only dies your body is a car

[BlissfulBrotherV]

Sound, (Based On The Riddle), No! Waves? Effects?, Yes!

Some HEAR Miles Away.

All energy shifting or action unfolding evolves into a myriad of offshoots of effects which are either interpreted by an experiencer or not.

A Standing Tree can be heard by those with ability to hear on the same level as the vibratory expressions of the tree and It's been proven that trees hear each other's status & much more.

All Is Connected.

Google Or Search YouTube: Cleve Backster Experiment, 1966

[y2jcjy2j7]

you are stupid, the question is (does it make a sound), not (can you hear the sound)?

So according to your stupid theory, you must beleive that radiation does not exist. if i walked trough a room full of radiation, i wouldn't be affected as long as i "don't" have a radiation detector. So as long as i don't know its there im safe, if i do know its there im not? that's perty dumb theory of yours.

[montgonova]

ok, radiation is a completly diferent wave and they have both different affects on us, sound wave and radiation wave,

[y2jcjy2j7]

OK, put it this way, a high enough sound wave, not "shokwave" can kill someone by super heating water molecules inside your body thus literally liquefying your internal organs. So your ganna tell me a deaf person is immune to this effect?

That's why they protest high powered Sonar on navy vessels because, in most cases whales die or get brain damage thats why they say they get alot of beached whales.

[ELASTICAMAN]

oh my god ur so wrong.

Does it make sound waves? YES

does anything recieve and convert those waves into sound? NO

so does it make a sound? NO

[y2jcjy2j7]

you are wrong.

It would be like saying, " if a guy dies in the forest and no one is there to see him, is he dead?"

Answer, Yes.

If the tree had fallen in space where theirs no air, then no it wouldn't of made a sound, but we are on earth and there is air, so yes it made a sound.

[ELASTICAMAN]

no you are wrong. it creates soundwaves. the sound is only created if the waves are converted. if there is nothing to convert the waves there is no sound

[Stquinn]

In June 1883, The Chautauquan magazine (Volume 3, Issue 9, page 543) stated: "No. Sound is the sensation excited in the ear when the air or other medium is set in motion."

On April 5, 1884, Scientific American (page 218) stated: "Sound is vibration, transmitted to our senses through the mechanism of the ear and recognized as sound only at our nerve centers. The falling of the tree or any other disturbance will produce vibration of the air. If there be no ears to hear, there will be no sound."

[Stquinn]

However, the philosophical riddle, posed by George Berkeley (3/12/16851/14/1753), had nothing to do with sound at all, neither its physical nature nor its metaphysical possibilities. His dictum was "Esse est percipi" - "To be is to be perceived". He talked of objects ceasing to exist once there was nobody around to perceive them.

[Stquinn]

In his work, A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, he proposes, "surely there is nothing easier than for me to imagine trees, for instance, in a park and nobody by to perceive them. The objects of sense exist only when they are perceived; the trees therefore are in the garden no longer than while there is somebody by to perceive them." One source cites him concisely phrasing the question, "If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it really fall?"

[nikjey]

superman would have heard it

[ENAIRAMA1]

I completely agree with it. I was wondering, when I was about to be aware that I was awake, there is a moment that even when the TV is on, you can't hear it. I experienced that. My awareness was not there, and in that split second, when I realized that I was just awake, that milisecond in the process, I did not hear the tv on. then the noise of the tv was hearable. Thank you.

[markuk71]

A wave both exists and doesnt as probability an collapses into a particle once observed.

So it only exists as matter once it has an observer.

I think the tree falling only makes a sound when it has an observer because until and observer collapses the wave of probablity. it is only there as a probability wave both existing and not existing.

[emodude123123]

if a tree falls and no ones aroud to hear it, does it make a sound, OF COURSE IT DOES! your just not there to hear it

[montgonova]

So, lets say, you can tune into the radio without a radio reciever being there? even though the sound radio waves are present you arent receiving it

[WillyTheWorriedWorm]

so many of us are unpluged radios. we need to be turned on in order to 'receive'.

i love the abraham-hicks example of being tuned in but this video makes it very clear to me now. thank you for the post.

[BuddhaHippie]

This is a good answer, but I think it invites the question: If a tree falls in the forest, but no one is around to see it, does it really fall at all..?

[montgonova]

hmm i would have to say, that the tree in his own reality will, but in ours it wont, lol, hard ...

[BuddhaHippie]

But when you run the scenario in you mind, you can't escape the fact that you're there to "see" it or "hear" it..

[montgonova]

lol, i dunno, all i do know that its all an illusion

and in the end it doesnt matter if the tree fell down or not :)

[cutie399]

Omgawsh, I get this and it makes sense. It just wont stay in my brain, its confusing, but at the same time understandable. Are you getting me?

[CoyeAngel]

Really nice... thank you... much love...

[NamaSika]

Those were true insights. Once you raise your awareness to 'wanting to hear' you will hear. Our senses are so special that when trained we need no eyes to 'see' right?

Nice vide Steve:) Thank you for this.

Best wishes

Tara

[cheng1LA]

But even a more important lesson I draw from this riddle is that if I can't hear the sound of a falling tree in a forest (doesn't matter where I am), then my ears are far from being perfect.

[cheng1LA]

Hardly possible situation.Those waves will catch somebody while travelling around the globe.

[dorothyintrouble]

sound waves are not that long ;)

[ShadowHawk776]

I try explaining this to people and they don't agree :/

[montgonova]

lol, dont they see there self as a reciever?, and what if you lost your recievers?

[ShadowHawk776]

The world only exists through the eyes of the beholder ;) And ears :P If hearing was gone to someone who is experiencing, there would be no sound.

Peace

Rob

[itsabomberscope]

Very interesting. But lets say I placed a tape recorder in that forest where the tree fell. I would expect to hear the sound of the crashing tree on the tape, or the song of the birds. Therefore the sound was created before a human ear heard it. Unless we are saying the sound on the tape is created when we listen to the recording. What ever the answer is, questions like this make us think!

[BowskiGraphics]

well, the video/tape recorder wold be the "Receiver".

[montgonova]

exactly

[TheLatasia]

5 stars

Cool video.

I put it in my favorites as well.

[Lifehunter1]

i never really thought about it.

and i like your in-sight

live long and prosper :-)

5 stars

[TheVeganHere]

5 stars!