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Question: If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, will it make a sound!?
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I'd say that it does!. The question is whether we count sound waves (ie vibrations at certain frequencies) as sound objectively, or only when they are interpreted as such by an ear (since that's the way we always pick them out)!. It's mainly a definitional question; it's about how we use the word 'sound'!.

Suppose someone does hear the sound, but they're a long way away from the tree!. At the same time, he hears another sound, like himself dropping his torch!. He says: "Those two noises sounded like they happened at the same time, but the tree-fall sounded very faint, maybe that sound was created earlier!."!. This seems right, so the sound was created when the tree fell, not only once it's reached an ear!. The only other possibility is that it existed as a sound from when the tree fell only because it was going to be heard by someone later!.

10 points please ;-D

This all assumes that you accept the common-sense view that there is a physical world regardless of whether it is perceived!. I don't imagine you need that argued for, soleil!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

The true answer is: No one will ever know!. By "natural law", it should make a sound but it was the human race who defined "natural law" so since no human could ever test this question out, there is no way to know if it falls under the restrictions of "natural law!." Of course, my initial response to this question is, "Of course it makes a sound!.!.!." but truly it's impossible to know for sure!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yeah! A ruddy big bang of a noise! Guess what - you missed it! You haven't been taking rabbit down a hole too seriously have you, where nothing actually happens unless you notice it happening!. When we are all gone the sun will still be rising, whether we are here to notice it or not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It depends on your viewpoints!.

If by "sound" you mean the physical energy wave, then yes!. However, if you mean "sound" as something that is heard by beings, then it will always remain a mystery!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes it will still make a sound!. The impact of the wood on the ground will still generate vibrations that will cause sound waves that would be audible to anyone in the area!. The fact that someone is there or not is irrelevant!.

BiaWww@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, it still makes a sound!. Think of it this way!. If you are in a building with no windows in the day time, and you can't see the sun light, does that mean that it is dark outside!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

A sound is not dependent on someone hearing it!. If you and an entirely deaf person are there to witness the tree falling, you would hear it and they would not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Of Course Not!.

A sound is something that needs something like an ear to mean anything!. No one to percieve the sound, no sound!. Just a disturbance in the air!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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It does!. If you won a trip to disneyworld and you didn't get the phonecall, did you still win it!? Yes!. It is the same thing, but in a different situation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The answer is, simply, yes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No because it doesn't exist!.Www@QuestionHome@Com