If A Tree Falls In The Forest...

[butsam]

Let's see... If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound?

* Classical Physics: It makes longitudinal vibrations of another medium (air), which are defined as making sound -- yes.

* Quantum Mechanics: Only if you hear it. Otherwise, it is in a superposition of yes-no states, waiting for a measurement to take place.

* Martians: What's sound?

Of course this is tongue-in-cheek. Quantum effects are not observable on the larger scale of classical physics, so the physical answer is "yes".

Sam

[begood2]

Let's see... If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound?

* Classical Physics: It makes longitudinal vibrations of another medium (air), which are defined as making sound -- yes.

* Quantum Mechanics: Only if you hear it. Otherwise, it is in a superposition of yes-no states, waiting for a measurement to take place.

* Martians: What's sound?

Of course this is tongue-in-cheek. Quantum effects are not observable on the larger scale of classical physics, so the physical answer is "yes".

Sam

Even animals and insects can perceive and differentiate between sounds of calling or attraction and sounds that startle or may be from an enemy.

[oaf1984]

I am sure something will always hear it. Unless only humans matter....

[Christos]

I suppose that is the catch in the whole question.

We instantly make the assumption that it must be a human to hear it.

However as humans we will never know of the sound if it hasn't been reported to us.

If we do not know about something...it never existed.

[Lindy]

If a bear eats a hippy in the woods, does the bear's burp make a sound if nobody is around to hear it?

ROFL