If a tree falls in a forest but nobody is there to hear it does it make a noise?

Question

If a tree falls in a forest but nobody is there to hear it does it make a noise?

Answer 1

Yes, to assume that nature acts differently if someone is around is purely human arrogance.

Answer 2

Yes, and it reverberates through the universe.

Answer 3

Only if it lands on your Mitsubishi Montero

Answer 4

Things hear and feel it all right, they're just not necessarily human.

Forests are full of life.  But I want to know why the tree fell. Some poor hypothetical tree fell just so you could ask your question.  Mighta squished a squirrel for Gods Sake!

Answer 5

Yes it does, its not necessary for some one to hear a tree fall for the tree to make a noise, it makes the same sound it would if 1000,000 people were there when it falls.

Answer 6

If you stood in that same forest and you screamed, could we hear it ?

Answer 7

does it make a difference

Answer 8

I read this in psychology.

... except it was phrased, does it make a 'sound,' not 'noise'

but anyway,

the answer in my textbook was no, because sound only exists in your brain. sound is the interpretation of the sound waves that travel through the air... but those are just the waves- the vibrations. vibrations alone cannot be "sound," or "noise." only when it gets into your ear, eardrum, goes in the auditory nerve or whatever, and into your brain does it THEN get interpreted as a "sound."

so ... if it doesn't get to the ear, then it makes vibrations, it makes the sound waves, but not the sound itself.

Answer 9

if no one was there, how does anyone know that the tree fell.  Perhaps if someone came along and found a tree laying on the ground, he may reasonably assume that the "fall" was gradual do to poor roots and there was no thud due to sufficient cushioning (branches, leaves).  

let me ask a question: if a man is running for president and most people in the country do NOT vote for him, is he president?

Answer 10

Yes, because I have been in a forest where a tree fell, and it made a lot of noise.

Answer 11

i think that is a trick question but for my answer i think yes!