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19th April 2006, 04:38 PM
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Reps: 955 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by seekthetruth909 According to the principles of Quantum Physics it would not make a sound. The tree would not exist at all as a solid object of particles without an observer.
Quantum Physics 101
Not exactly. Decoherence says that a macroscopic object interacts with its environment so much that its wavefunction collapses whether there is an observer or not. So, just like Schrodinger's Cat, the tree does make a sound if it falls, even if no one is around to hear it.
I suppose that's Quantum Physics 102... |
19th April 2006, 05:19 PM
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Reps: 342 (power: 0) | | | Sound is the propogation of a wave through a medium. If the tree is falling, it is slicing through the atmosphere causing a wave to propogate through the atmosphere, once it has hit, it then unleashes a greater sound, and the crack of the tree also unleashes a sound.
It is very conceited to state that a tree falling to the ground will not make a sound, simply because a human is not around to hear it. Likewise, no such force has been discovered that would make the statement coherent or true. It is the equivalent of saying 'If an astronomer discovers a star, did the star exist before it was discovered'. Again, conceited and also very semantical. Again, no such force exist that would make the statement coherent or true.
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19th April 2006, 07:40 PM
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Reps: 8,164 (power: 19) | | Originally Posted by GreenDragon Not exactly. Decoherence says that a macroscopic object interacts with its environment so much that its wavefunction collapses whether there is an observer or not. So, just like Schrodinger's Cat, the tree does make a sound if it falls, even if no one is around to hear it.
I suppose that's Quantum Physics 102...
Interesting. Can't wait to see what Quantum Physics 103 is all about. 
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20th April 2006, 10:56 AM
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Reps: 37,577,186 (power: 37,590) | | So the observer is the cause of the tree's existence, is it?
Even an uncaused event does not take place without an observer, and hence can I say that the observer is the cause(may be not material cause) for that so-called uncaused event, simply because it doesn't take place without him.
I'd really appreciate your answer.
The greek for god is Theos, Theos literally means 'the one who observes'. A strange coincidence perhaps.
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22nd April 2006, 01:25 PM
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Reps: 7,634,615,456,460,891,136 (power: 7,634,615,456,460,912) | | | A tree can fall and no one can hear it, but that does not mean that it does not necessarily make sound. The fact that it does or does not make sound does not depend on other people hearing it.
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22nd April 2006, 05:02 PM
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Reps: 23,741,578,509,951,664 (power: 23,741,578,509,962) | | Trees don't fall when no one is around, because then who would they crush? (Trees are out to get us!  ) |
22nd April 2006, 06:28 PM
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Reps: 8,164 (power: 19) | | Originally Posted by Gardenia Trees don't fall when no one is around, because then who would they crush? (Trees are out to get us! )
Or, 'Trees don't fall when no one is around, because then who is there to cut them?'
...Environmentalism rocks! 
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