The question "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, would there be a sound?" is useful because it highlights that "sound" can be
A) a physical stimulus.
B) a perceptual response.
C) both a perceptual and physical stimulus.
D) a philosophical stimulus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The question is useful because it raises the point that "sound" can be both a physical stimulus (vibrations in the air) and a perceptual response (the brain interpreting those vibrations as sound). Without a human ear to interpret the vibrations, there is still a physical stimulus, but there is no perceptual response. Therefore, "sound" exists as both a physical and perceptual stimulus.

The Question "If a Tree Falls in a Forest and No