February 27, 2005

Engineering answers to Zen Questions!

If a tree falls in the forest, and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound?

Answer: Of course.

In order for there to be a tree and a forest in the first place, there has to be an atmosphere of some sort. At least with a significant percentage of Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen and Oxygen; the first two being necessary for the tree’s growth, and the second as a natural byproduct.

And any object moving through an atmosphere, (or any gas for that matter) will cause turbulence in said atmosphere. This turbulence is, or will cause pressure waves in the atmosphere. And since sound is nothing more than pressure waves, the tree therefore made a sound.

Simple.


Next time: A study into the sound of one hand clapping. (It’s kind of a soft whhhiisssshh sound. And I’ll tell you why.)

Posted by GEBIV at February 27, 2005 01:22 PM
Comments

You broke my Zen, you bastard! :-P

Posted by: Harvey at February 27, 2005 01:29 PM

Can an omnipetant(spelling) being create a boulder which it can't lift?

Posted by: Brad Galloway at March 20, 2005 12:05 AM

but in order for a sound to be made, something must hear it. if no onw hears it, it does not exist.

Posted by: sdfasdf at April 20, 2005 06:09 PM

HMMM you are wise, yes, but can you do flying fist of juda?? or even the "tiger" style?????

Posted by: Folarin at May 5, 2005 03:59 PM

Well, sound, as defined, is not actually existent until there is some entity to hear the vibrations through said atmosphere.

Posted by: Gothic.Panda at May 19, 2005 11:19 AM
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