If a tree falls in a forest, and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Support your answer since there will be many similar choices.

yes.

end of discussion

Oh, the lovely challange of a paradox.

My thoughts:

Sound travels in waves, like light and radio. Well, the only things that can pick up those waves are human and animal ears. However, waves never actually go away. THey just become more dispersed. Eventually, I think every living thing with ears on Earth hears everything in the world at some point. So yes, if a tree falls in a forest and there's no one to hear it, bullshit. You hear it, just at such a low frequency you don't know it.

Yes. Even if there is no creature present, the sound waves are still present, flowing around the air like no one's business- which it is.

It does make a sound. Just because there is nobody there does not mean that the tree breaks all of the laws of sound.

how about this.
Schrödinger's cat is dead
Schrödinger's cat is not dead.

and yes the tree makes a sound.

I don't get it, iFly.

I could put a very egotistical comment right now, but I will refrain.

Invis is trying to make a point on paradoxes I believe.

Wow ein, thoughtful.

The technical answer is that:

Yes, the falling tree makes sound. Sound is mechanical energy. It's the compression and rarefaction of, in this case, air. The falling tree is converting potential (positional) energy into kinetic energy, and some of the kinetic energy is the mechanical energy of sound. The falling tree makes sound. The sound is there whether anyone is present to hear it or not. Anyone who believes anything differently 1) does not understand the question, 2) does not understand the terminology and the meaning of the words, or 3) is lost in philosophy.

And, if you wish to prove it, set up a recording device and place a timed explosive device around the tree. leave the area well before the explosion. Return after the explosion and if the recording device has not been destroyed (by placing it too close to the tree) you should be able to play back the recording, and if all went as planned, you should hear a loud thud shortly after a sharp explosion. Do NOT try to explain your reasoning behind this experiment to the authorities!

Sk9 wrote:

Wow ein, thoughtful.

Doesn't matter now, Shush pwned me.

jshushij wrote:

The technical answer is that:

Yes, the falling tree makes sound. Sound is mechanical energy. It's the compression and rarefaction of, in this case, air. The falling tree is converting potential (positional) energy into kinetic energy, and some of the kinetic energy is the mechanical energy of sound. The falling tree makes sound. The sound is there whether anyone is present to hear it or not. Anyone who believes anything differently 1) does not understand the question, 2) does not understand the terminology and the meaning of the words, or 3) is lost in philosophy.

And, if you wish to prove it, set up a recording device and place a timed explosive device around the tree. leave the area well before the explosion. Return after the explosion and if the recording device has not been destroyed (by placing it too close to the tree) you should be able to play back the recording, and if all went as planned, you should hear a loud thud shortly after a sharp explosion. Do NOT try to explain your reasoning behind this experiment to the authorities!

Pwned if I had made my comment. Glad I didn't.

Good explanation. +1 rep.

Thanks.

Now im curious as to what you were going to say.

Yes
It's like

Well if ein rants on a topic, and theirs nobody around to give a fuck, I'm pretty sure he doesn't make a sound. Then again he busted my eardrums a while back.

Jk Ein. I had to for the lulz

lmaooo

Yes, it does. Poor squirrel.

Lol Chainy and Sher.

Obviously it makes a sound...when something falls, it makes a sound.

Just because no one's there doesn't mean it doesn't make a sound..

Sherlip wrote:

Well if ein rants on a topic, and theirs nobody around to give a fuck, I'm pretty sure he doesn't make a sound. Then again he busted my eardrums a while back.

Jk Ein. I had to for the lulz

That's true. But posts don't make sound. Keystrokes, however, do.

How bout this. A tree falling in the woods and "not making a sound" comes from an old wives tale. I heard another old wives tale that, if enough cows are sitting down, it will rain.

Bullshit.

I say if a if a tree falls an no one is around to hear it, it will still make a sound.

It's just logic.

Exactly. This can be answered scientifically.

I heard that if you open the windows during a tornado, it will equalize pressure and minimalize damage. If you open a window during a tornado, it's worse than a fail. It's a sucicide attempt.

If your chair is on fire in your house, you close your window to stop the fire getting oxygen, but then again, you fail, cause you can't jump out of the window, cause it's closed.