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toxicgirl Jan 14, 2004

If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is around to hear it, does it still make a noise?

malibu malibuOG 2001

no. sound is produces by the shape of your ear canals so when a human's ear is not there to make this occurance happen, no one hears it.

tinser tinserOG 2002

sounds like existentialism to me

thefunkyfresh thefunkyfreshFounder

point for me?

tinser tinserOG 2002

yeah, that was an old post...but nobody else claimed it...so it's all yours

T
toxicgirlOG 2003

the chipmunks and deer prolly hear it fall tho

iwz iwz

well, that's only half-right. it depends on your definition of "sound".

if you use this definition:
"Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing. or Transmitted vibrations of any frequency."

then, yes, of course a sound is made.

but if you use this definition: "The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium. "

then, no, there's no sound because no hearing organs are stimulated.

so, in the strictest technical sense, yes, there's still a sound. but the question is really just posed to make you think.

fivezero fivezeroOG 2003

thanks for the swell breakdown. i was THINKING that, but didn't feel like articulating, lol.

ophelia opheliaOG 2003

haha, exactly..the answer that that "age old" question is like so freakin obviouse - I don't know why it's so age old...the study of acoustics should of once & for all put an end to anybody ever asking this question again

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