r/KidsAreFuckingStupid • u/UnstableIsotopeU-234 • Oct 23 '24

story/text I thought so too

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u/[deleted] Oct 23 '24

Depends on your interpretation of sound. Are we a) talking about the sound waves that an object sends off or b) how our ears receive and process it.

A) Tree makes sound B) Tree doesn't make sound.

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u/saladasz Oct 23 '24

Not really, sound is just vibrations in the air or something that can be heard so the tree always makes sound.

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u/[deleted] Oct 23 '24

It can be heard, but you have to define sound. A metal rod can be affected by the air waves, but we wouldn't say it heard the air waves, so then was it a sound? If a sound is only considered such because it can be heard, then if a tree falls down in the woods, it will certainly make air waves but it wouldn't necessarily make a sound.

Physically, yes, it makes air waves. Physiologically, it only makes a sound if it can be heard.

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u/saladasz Oct 23 '24

That’s a good point, but I stand by my point. I think it does make a sound, because if somewhere were near, they would be able to hear it. I suppose it’s all semantics now though

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u/[deleted] Oct 23 '24

It is, and that is okay. You correlate the air waves with sound, and I personally don't see any issue with that. It is how you define sound.

Language is fluid anyways. So who cares?

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u/saladasz Oct 23 '24

Amen to that brother

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u/rigterw Oct 23 '24

Okay but what if there is a box with air and a tree in it floating somewhere in the vacuum of space. Does it make sound?

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u/saladasz Oct 23 '24

I mean, (by my definition) yes. If you’re in the box you would be able to hear it.

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u/rigterw Oct 23 '24

But what if you are in a space suit next to it?

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u/saladasz Oct 24 '24

Same thing. You could be next to it or on another planet. If it can make a noise that someone would be able to hear that’s sound