• Question: if a tree falls and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

    Asked by lilygrainger to Anouk, Chris, Judith, Leisha, Seyyed on 12 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Chris Kettle

      Chris Kettle answered on 12 Jun 2012:

      Not proven but the laws of physics state “yes”. The entrophy of the tree must be released as sound as it crashes into the floor.

      If your science teacher was in the tree when it was cut down and there was no one around….. Would any one care???

    • Photo: Judith Sleeman

      Judith Sleeman answered on 12 Jun 2012:

      But even if the vibrations, that would be detected as sound, are released, but there are no ears there to convert that mechanical energy to nerve impulses, is there still really a sound as we understand it?

      Hmmm…..And I think your science teacher might care!!

    • Photo: Anouk Gouvras

      Anouk Gouvras answered on 14 Jun 2012:

      It depends on your definition of ‘sound’ . If by ‘sound’ you mean ‘something that can be heard’ then no. If by ‘sound’ you mean the physics definition – mechanical energy of air then the answer is yes.

      But Judith’s point is very good; the mechanical energy doesn’t cause sound directly, it causes vibrations and those vibrations travel until they hit something that, like Judith says, can convert them to nerve impulses and thereby perceive the vibrations as ‘noise’/’sound’ …. without this perception maybe the answer is ‘no’

      hmm good point Judith

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