if a tree

if a tree falls in the middle of a forest ... and nobody is around to hear it does it still make a noise?

I've never understood if people are serious when they ask that question or if they're just dumb. Why the hell would it not make a noise? Does the tree take a look around first to see if someone's around, before falling, to see if it needs to be make a sound? :screwy:

I've never understood if people are serious when they ask that question or if they're just dumb. Why the hell would it not make a noise? Does the tree take a look around first to see if someone's around, before falling, to see if it needs to be make a sound? :screwy:

haha thats funny...you dont have to go calling me dumb tho? lol im just trying to have some fun

My bad, I didn't mean to call you dumb; I just ment it in general.

i think the whole debate is about whether our ears are needed to create the noise cuz its a sense (hearing, that is).. i dunno.
if there was a clear cut answer (notice the pun) then it obviously wouldnt be brought up for pointless discussion!
so yes. just thought i'd contribute here.

My bad, I didn't mean to call you dumb; I just ment it in general.

so are you saying that you're not calling him dumb b/c of this topic but just dumb in general :tongue:

when i was younger i always thought that no people or places existed unless i say them

yes it does.

If I remember correctly from Physics class, the answer is no. In order for something to be considered a sound, it must be received by something (our hears, microphone, etc). If it's not received by anything, it's not a sound.

No, the tree does no make a noise. however the rabbit it falls on screams bloody murder.

Unless it's a tree that is our in the middle of no where, with no other trees around; there is a sound. Because... If there are numerous trees around 1 small area, there will be small creatures (such as the one silentchamber mentoned). These animals will hear the sound, so there is a sound. If you've ever seen a tree fall and there were birds around, they skatter like crazy before the tree hits the ground (creaks and crunches). So now someone will say "well they see the tree falling". Do you think they'd really be able to discipher between the tree creaking and falling, with similar signs that a strong wind would make? When you think about it, it'd be very unlikely that something wouldn't be around when it fell. And even if there wasn't, there are still sound waves created. Why wouldn't there be? Why would something have to be there for it to make a sound, it make absolutely no sense.

there are still sound waves created.

There are always sounds everywhere, all the time...

Our spy satelites would pick it up no matter where it was at, and who was around.