An age old philosophical paradox finally solved using quantum physics.

sound=vibrations of air molecules.

movement causes these vibrations therefore a sound is created whenever air is displaced

[QUOTE="nisshoku1729"]

"If a tree falls in the woods and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Correct Answer: "Maybe"

xaos

I thought sound was the vibration of matter in a specific manner

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="nisshoku1729"]

"If a tree falls in the woods and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Correct Answer: "Maybe"

Video_Game_King

I thought sound was the vibration of matter in a specific manner

1 a: a particular auditory impression : tone
b: the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
c: mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearingMerriam-Webster

[QUOTE="Video_Game_King"][QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="nisshoku1729"]

"If a tree falls in the woods and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Correct Answer: "Maybe"

xaos

I thought sound was the vibration of matter in a specific manner

1 a: a particular auditory impression : tone
b: the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
c: mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearingMerriam-Webster

Huh? What do you mean "principal one"? The first one? Fine, I'll respond by quoting Wiki;

Sound is vibration transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas; particularly, sound means those vibrations composed of frequencies capable of being detected by ears.Wikipedia

First of all, don't pull out the tired Wiki argument, because this page can only be edited by people in authority on the site. No weirdos inserting pictures of cats in there or anything. Second, by this definition, it does not matter if the sound is heard, but that it has the capability to be heard if somebody is around.

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="Video_Game_King"][QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="nisshoku1729"]

"If a tree falls in the woods and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Correct Answer: "Maybe"

Video_Game_King

I thought sound was the vibration of matter in a specific manner

1 a: a particular auditory impression : tone
b: the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
c: mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearingMerriam-Webster

Huh? What do you mean "principal one"? The first one? Fine, I'll respond by quoting Wiki;

Sound is vibration transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas; particularly, sound means those vibrations composed of frequencies capable of being detected by ears.Wikipedia

First of all, don't pull out the tired Wiki argument, because this page can only be edited by people in authority on the site. No weirdos inserting pictures of cats in there or anything. Second, by this definition, it does not matter if the sound is heard, but that it has the capability to be heard if somebody is around.

"If a tree falls in the woods and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Correct Answer: "Maybe"

nisshoku1729

I'll counter with wiktionary: sound (plural sounds) 1. A sensation perceived by the ear caused by the vibration of air or some other medium. (He turned when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.)
2. A vibration capable of causing this. By the way, that Wikipedia article is flagged as needing more citations and references :Pxaos

Ha, it serves to prove my point more. As long as the vibrations are capable of being heard, then it is considered sound.

[QUOTE="magicalclick"]

If a big earth quake happens on the other side of the sea, no one can feel it, see it, hear it, does it means human will not experience it? In Hawaii, you will experience Tsunami, a giant wave traveled in the medium of water, not air, not photon. You will not feel the earth quake, but you will experience its by product.

I don't care your playing of words. Something happened means it happened. The energy can be converted into different energy. Can be heat, waves, momentum, and other energy. You will experience it indirectly one way or another.

If you want philosophy, read up butterfly effect.

nisshoku1729

The whole spirit of the paradox is what happens with something that cannot be observed. We are able to observe the earthquake, at least indirectly, from the tsunami. If we were to theoretically isolate something completely (which is impossible but let's say we can) what happens when an event, such as the tree falling, occurs.

Hell, we don't even know if the tree fell.

but it still did, and it still made the sound -.- Wow, how philosophical.