If a tree fell in a forest, would it make a noise if no one were to hear it?

[TuesdayViolet]

A tree in a forest falls down, theres no one in the forest of nearby at all.
Does the tree make a sound?

Me and my boyfriend are arguing about this one.
I say it doesnt make a sound because the sound vibrations cant travel that far.
for example, music is playing. If you walk away it gets quieter until you cant hear anything.
If a bird was 10 miles away from that tree it would hear a thud, because of the vibrations
what pick up.

But he thinks that it would still make a noise..
but how could it if the vibrations have no where to travel?

[seadogg]

If you think this is confusing just wait for some of the topics on here, welcome by the way.

[Hopkirk]

How did that cat get in here?

[Hopkirk]

What, the cat?

[wildwood]

Oversimplified, sound is made by disturbances in the air known as sound waves. A falling tree pushes the air away from its front as it falls, already making a whoosh sound. When it hits the ground the sound volume depends on what it falls on. If on earth it makes a thump because the earth is soft and gives way to the weight of the tree. If it falls on a hard surface there is no 'give' so the air rushes out from under the tree as it hit the ground at a greater rate thus causing a faster displacement of air; a louder sound.
The sound waves travel out from the source in a circular formation and get weaker as they get further away from the sound. Whether anyone is around to pick up those vibration with their ears and hear it makes no difference to the sound.

(all typos and grammar discrepancies have been added on purpose to keep the pedantpatrol on their toes)

[New Judge]

All very philosophical.

Two people are standing a short distance away from the tree (but far enough to avoid being hit by it when it falls). One is stone deaf the other has perfect hearing. One hears the sound of it falling and the other obviously does not. Does the tree make a sound?

Imagine two people standing side by side. One is completely blind the other has perfect sight. A powerful floodlight is switched on and pointed towards them. One sees the glare the other obviously does not. Is the floodlight producing any light?

Does the falling tree only make a sound and the floodlight only produce light for those people than can hear or see? I think not. The sound and light are produced regardless of who or what is around to receive them.

[seadogg]

The sound or audio frequencies are only part of a great spectrum of frequencies. As far as we are concerned btween about 20 and 20,ooo hertz if memory serves. Light of course is another group and radio frequencies (what my hobby is about) another.
Whether any individual wants to believe in them is their business and good luck to them.

[jackthehat]

I have always believed that it is the introduction of 'an eardrum' which solves this conundrum...

The falling tree creates 'sound-waves' and thus the potentiality of creating a 'sound'. However, it is only when the ear-drum receives and begins the translation of these waves, that true 'sound' is said to be created.

[ChuckFickens]

Sound isn't a electromagnetic wave! other than being a wave it has no similarities to light or radio.

the sound frequencies of 20Hz - 20KHz (typically the audible sound frequencies) roughly correspond to the super low, ultra low and very low frequency bands.

[Old_Geezer]

This one seems to crop up regularly. IMO it all depends on how you define sound.

If you consider sound to be the wave made in a medium (i.e. air) then one would need to have a very strange philosophical belief to think that this isn't produced when no one is there to hear it. If, on the other hand, you consider sound to be what your ear and brain/nerve translate the wave into so you can experience it, then naturally no individual means no conversion means no sound.

You pays your money, you takes your choice.

[supersuezy24]

yes it would make a noise, just because noone is their to witness the tree falling does not mean it won't make a sound. It will make a sound just you won't hear it as you are not in the forest.

[Booldawg]

+1 with suze.

I've often heard this question asked and never understood why its even a point of debate. Its so simply yes. I really cant grasp why someone would think otherwise.

[New Judge]

Quite supersuezy.

The sound is produced whether anybody is there to hear it or not. There is disturbance in the air and that is not dependant upon anybody being there to witness it. Similarly if you throw a stone into a pond an effect similar to sound waves in air is produced in the water. Whether anybody is there to see or feel the disturbance in the water or not does not matter. It is still there.

That's the end of this debate as far as I am concerned!

[joko]

depends how you define sound....a sound is how things affects our ear drums though...so without eardrums to react to the sound waves, they stay waves...or do they....?
its an interesting question that seems to have no definitive answer....

[rov1100]

Yes it does make a sound. This video shows it...skip through the first 90 secs if you wish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhgZemXj1Zo

[Postdog]

The cat is irrelevant because it's probably dead anyway

[jomifl]

It is not a good idea to mix philosophy with science, it leads to confusion and illogical thinking. There are a lot of things that exist of which you are unaware. Some people are aware of things that don't exist, at least in the real world.

[THECORBYLOON]

At night, is the sun giving out light still?

[RATTER15]

I don't understand why this is so often debated, why would it not make a sound!!?

[Skids]

You're confusing science with philosophy by asking a philosophical question and trying to get a scientific answer.
So, scientifically, yes, the tree makes a noise. Part of the tree's energy is released as sound caused by various actions; wood splitting, leaves rustling, hitting the ground, and so on. There is no reason why not being there to hear it would change that.
Philosophically, you can't answer either way but consider this; if you're not there to see it has it fallen over? If no one told you about the tree did it even exist?