I refer you to the definition of sound as given by Wikipedia:
“Sound is a travelling wave which is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations”
Sound must be at a level sufficiently strong to be heard, therefore the falling tree would not still make the sound if nothing was there to hear it. However, several stories claim that the trees have eyes (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Lord of the Rings etc) so maybe they have ears too. Who is to say the tree can’t hear itself falling?
Ah the enlightened question, used in the simpsons to improve Bart Simpsons mini golf game. This depends on how you look at sound. Do you define sound as the concept of it is the particles vibrating, or do you define sound as what you hear because of the particles vibrating. If you define it as the first then yes, if the other then no.
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