The falling tree doesn't make any sound, it makes longitudinal waves of compression move in a medium. Your brain interprets the waves as sound. If you shout at a deaf person, you make longitudinal waves of compression move in a medium, but their brain doesn't interpret this as sound. If you were deaf too and nobody else was around to hear it, there would be no sound. I think.
You think wrong. First, the Deaf can still sense the pressure waves. Second, any number of different mechanical devices can sense the pressure waves. Third, the pressures waves are sound (by definition), not your brain's interpretation of them.
Is every pressure wave sound by definition, or just MY brains interpretation of it? BTW I didn't bring up the topic of deafness, but can a deaf person sense the pressure wave of a pin dropping, or a mosquito flying? Is sensing without ears hearing sound? Did sound, as interpreted by my brain exist before mechanical devices came along to measure it? Surely man heard noise and called it sound long before it could be measured. Sound is what you hear, not what you feel, sense or measure.
"Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations."
Technically as said sound is an artefact of hearing, it requires ears and a brain to interpret the resulting signal from the ears. - no ears no brain no sound just an interesting wind from the falling tree.
Discussions
8 years ago
Since sound is longitudinal waves of compression moving in a medium, what do you think ? Does the medium not move because you don't hear it ?
Alternatively, if I shout at someone who is deaf, do I make a noise ? Of course I do.
Answer 8 years ago
What if the deaf person watches a tree fall in the forest...
Answer 8 years ago
The falling tree doesn't make any sound, it makes longitudinal waves of compression move in a medium. Your brain interprets the waves as sound. If you shout at a deaf person, you make longitudinal waves of compression move in a medium, but their brain doesn't interpret this as sound. If you were deaf too and nobody else was around to hear it, there would be no sound. I think.
Answer 8 years ago
You think wrong. First, the Deaf can still sense the pressure waves. Second, any number of different mechanical devices can sense the pressure waves. Third, the pressures waves are sound (by definition), not your brain's interpretation of them.
Answer 8 years ago
Is every pressure wave sound by definition, or just MY brains interpretation of it? BTW I didn't bring up the topic of deafness, but can a deaf person sense the pressure wave of a pin dropping, or a mosquito flying? Is sensing without ears hearing sound? Did sound, as interpreted by my brain exist before mechanical devices came along to measure it? Surely man heard noise and called it sound long before it could be measured. Sound is what you hear, not what you feel, sense or measure.
Answer 8 years ago
"Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations."
Best Answer 8 years ago
Does a tree make a sound if it falls in a vacuum, or does it depend on which brand the vacuum is? Hoover...Electrolux... Dyson...
8 years ago
the tree won't fall since there is no tree.
"I think therefore i am"
8 years ago
Maybe not, but I think Mr. Gump would say, "Ouch!"
Answer 8 years ago
Haw haw.
8 years ago
Actually trees fall only to entertain people, therefore a tree will never fall in a forest if nobody is around.
Answer 8 years ago
. +1
Answer 8 years ago
Trees fall and make/don't make a sound for the entertainment of instructables members.
8 years ago
If a mime dies in the forest, do the trees laugh?
Answer 8 years ago
I think everyone does.
8 years ago
Just because nobody is there to hear it doesn't mean it doesn't emit any sound waves.
Answer 8 years ago
I reckon the compression waves are not sound until your brain interprets them as such.
Answer 8 years ago
Either way it emits a wave that COULD be interpreted as sound.
Not saying it will be though.
8 years ago
Exactly the same question could be asked of the nature of light: if a tree falls in the forest, and nobody sees it fall, did it fall at all?
Answer 8 years ago
That's not the same question. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, it still fell.
Answer 8 years ago
If you can say that it made no noise, then you can equally say that its appearance did not change.
Answer 8 years ago
The question is if anyone hears it fall, not if anyone sees it fall.
Answer 8 years ago
>rolls eyes<
Answer 8 years ago
touche
8 years ago
Technically as said sound is an artefact of hearing, it requires ears and a brain to interpret the resulting signal from the ears. - no ears no brain no sound just an interesting wind from the falling tree.
8 years ago
No.
8 years ago
The secret is realizing there is no tree. Source.