If a tree falls in a forest and there is nothing around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Question

Ok so me and my friend were having an argument over this. I said no because if sound is defined as perception and no one hears it then it is not sound. My friend argued that sound is just waves so it must make a sound when it falls. Everything he says is usually wrong so I don't see why he would be right, like 4 others in my school supported him and 1 supported me.

Answer 1

yes, the tree falling causes sound waves whether or not anyone there is hearing it.

There is no great monitor to judge whether anyone is within earshot.

A tree falls whether a person is there or not

Answer 2

well, no one would hear it since no one's there, but it does make a sound!

Answer 3

Basically it comes down to what is the definition of sound is. If there was a tape recorder running by the tree and no one heard the tree fall but it got recorded on a tape. Then some one listened to the tape there would be a sound. So an audible vibration was created, which I believe is one definition of the word sound.  

Answer 4

Sound is usually defined as a cyclic movement of air/ground/water, etc.  In this way, sound occurs no matter whether or not there is perception.  Another way to tell is by noticing that sound, if loud enough or at the right frequency, can actually move or damage objects.  For example, opera singers can shatter glass with their voice.  If a recording of an opera singer were played in a forest with nothing there to hear it, a glass placed nearby would still shatter.  You could then enter the forest later and observe that there had, in fact, been a sound.

Answer 5

The forest is full of critters, so something would hear it,  maybe not a human but a bird or squirrel.

Answer 6

He's right.

Answer 7

It does not make a sound because waves hitting the eardrum create sound. It is not sound until it is registered in the brain, Until then, it is only sound waves.

Answer 8

It still makes a sound.

Answer 9

sound waves man

Answer 10

just how you interpretate the question.

most people will use scientific interpretation then use inductive reason to answer the question to arrive at the answer yes.

you answer at a philosophical level, which is deeper than your peers. to get your friends to understand your perspective, rephrase the question to replace the word "sound", with some random letters like "bjait". nobody ever precieved bjait to use inductive reasoning, so the question is whether the tree makes a bjait.

then push yourself to the next level to ask yourself the nature of perception and how you gain reliable knowledge. notice how the answer can be yes, no, no answer, insolvable... depending on the preceiver/interpreter. in the way we think, we like to absolutize subject or object. when we absolutize sound, then the preceiver becomes the variable. and when we absolutize the subject, the object becomes iffy. your friend may ask to define bjait. notice again how they are absolutize something to gain knowledge about something else from the perspective of bjait. notice how the subject and objects interrelated, inseparable, incomplete without the other. a more complete answer maybe both yes and no. bjait may or may not be heard when the tree falls.

however, all these analysis and reason is still a perspective in of itself. one of the original intention of the question is to break logic and the traditional mode of thinking. if you do, you may find even more a even more profound response than yes, no, yes and no, no answer, insolvable...

Answer 11

Of course it makes a sound. Just because you aren't there doesn't mean the laws of physics stop, the world doesn't revolve around you so change your perception to recognize forces are working in the universe constantly without anyone there to perceive it, or "hear" them.

Sound waves are made of matter like all waves and affect objects around them with their vibrations.

We've all heard this philosophical question, but it isn't meant to be taken literally, it's an analogy; like glass half empty or half full. You don't care if a glass is actually present, it describes whether someone is optimistic or pessimistic.

Try this experiment, sneak into a forest and hide and wait for a tree to fall and listen for it. It won't know you're there but there will be sounds from it, JK! ha.

Just because he's "usually wrong" doesn't mean he can't be right. And just because 4 "others" supported you doesn't mean you have to be right by democracy.

I suggest studying philosophy and physics and this question will make more sense to you.

Answer 12

Hmmm...

5 vs 2... that didn't help you out at all?

you might want to double check that "Everything he says is usually wrong" position...

Stick close, listen well and he might be able to save you much embarrassment in the future!!!

(He's probably always been right, and you just had bad info, which understandably made you THINK you were right, according to the intel you were given...)

"Sound Waves" is implied here in the question.  If you want to get into semantics, then warn us so we don't waste our time, but if not, and you're SERIOUS, then...

A better question to ask is:  If a tree falls in a forest and there is nothing around to see it, does it make a dent?

-To "d m" and others (who didn't read the question):  he wrote "nothing" so that rules out ANY animals, garden gnomes, whatever--anything with ears... (duh!)

-To Kaboose:  Great way to prove a point!  And since according to these "technicality experts", sound is only registered by an eardrum, you win with the tape recorder rebuttal!

(These poor blokes must be in sad shape though, since logic should be able to infer the common sense answer without any technological wizardry) lol

-To ver_jen and any others with similar response:

So if you're deaf, then sound now no longer exists?  

Just like if you're blind, then the tree didn't really fall...

The sheer idiocy!  (There are obviously other ways of testing phenomena other than just by unaided 1st person accounts--I feel like a gullible stooge for even stooping this low to answer such a blatantly obvious and childish question...)

C'mon guys, there's got to be something better you could be doing with your time... like writing code for a new program, trying to discover the cure for cancer, or watching TV...

Sheesh

Answer 13

for it to be a sound it must have a receiver

the 'waves' that are made from the trees arent sound wave unless there is a reveiver.

.....but i guess there are animals in the forest

Answer 14

NO! allow me to explain:

sound is created when molecules in the air begin to oscillate... and as you said those oscillations are interpreted by the brain as a sound.

the current dictionary definition for a sound is:

noun.

vibrations that travel through the air or other mediums and are heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear

therefore if it isn't heard by anyone or anything then it is just oscillations in the air

Answer 15

Technically, it would still make the waves and disrupt the air, but sound is a perceived thing, meaning if no one heard it, there really wouldn't be a "noise."

Answer 16

I answered this in my blog last week, so please forgive me for pointing the blog out instead.

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Answer 17

If the answer is about yes or no, the question has answered itself, the fallen tree makes a sound just nothing around to hear it. Nothing around to hear it doesnt mean can stop its (in this case tree's) natural proccess.

if you want to answer it phylosophically, the answer might be no.

In exact science the answer is absolutely yes.

yes or no depends on your taste.

it is like questioning, is salt salty if no one tastes it. haha. get real.

the point of this quote, i think, whoever first gave this statement, he/she might be on his/her contemplation and wanted to press on relationship, cause-effect, balance, etc.

I dont think there should be a question mark at the end of the sentence.

Answer 18

I always say yes how bout if the put a video camera or tape recorder out there and have the tree fall at that certain time, while no one is out there.