• Question: What is sound? And therefore does a tree make a noise if it falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it?

    Asked by AnswerME123 to Anna, George, Jodi, Rob, Stefan on 14 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Stefan Lines

      Stefan Lines answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      Sound is a pressure wave that makes the thing it travels through (like air or water) oscillate. Sound detectors (like a microphone or our ears) can pick this up, but it doesn’t mean it’s not there if you don’t sense it. Therefore, a tree definitely makes a sounds when it falls in a forest!

    • Photo: George Ryall

      George Ryall answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      Yes, something does not need to be observed for it to exist. That said, some philosophers might disagree.

      Sound is a pressure wave, making the substance (air, water, etc.) vibrate as it passes. Hence in space nobody can hear you scream.

    • Photo: Anna Scaife

      Anna Scaife answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      Sound is a variation in the density of molecules that forms a regular pattern. The pattern changes depending on the tone of the sound and its volume.

      When a tree falls it sets up these patterns regardless of whether anyone detects them 🙂

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