Forums → WEPR → If a Tree fell in the Forest...

The vibration in the air is the sound, so it does make a sound when it falls, just no one hears it.

Yes it does make a sound. If you can't hear it, it still makes a sound. Not to mention in a forest something always hears it.

Yes it does make a sound. If you can't hear it, it still makes a sound. Not to mention in a forest something always hears it.

What about insects or animals in the area?

People aren't the only animals that hear.

Let's consider that nothing with a sense of hearing was nearby.

Sound consists of the vibrations in the air causing your eardrums to vibrate, no? Technically, no, there couldn't be (Assuming I'm right, which I never am. ;_

If light passes through trees in the forest, does it shine? Same principles.

It depends. Do quantum physics include trees? If so, the tree is both fallen and standing at the same time, thus making both sound - and not making sound at the same time. In whch case the answer is clear.

If not however:

Sound is the mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium.
In this case, yes of course sound is produced.

Sound is the subjective case of hearing something.
In this case, no nothing experienced that sensation.

If think this scientifically it will make a sound which nobody will hear.
If we think it philosophically it won't make a sound, because there is nobody who can hear it there.

It does make a sound . . . there just isn't anyone in the vicinity to hear it.

It doesn't make a sound, atheist fools.

It makes sound waves...but theres no one to convert the sound waves into sound.

*giggity*

but theres no one to convert the sound waves into sound.

Umm, I'm gonna go with y'all said. Only sound waves not sound. I always thought it made a sound though. Weird...

The definition of sound according to the dictionary is:

mechanical vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium, traveling in air at a speed of approximately 1087 ft. (331 m) per second at sea level.

We have the vibrations people. Your hearing does not matter according to definition. Sorry :[

It does make a sound... Just no one can hear it, apart from animals.

Only if we're assuming animals count in the no one.