Frequently Asked Questions

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

Sound is audible vibration. This simple definition implies the potential for inaudible vibrations, such as vibrations with an extremely high or low frequency (outside of the range of human hearing). Vibrations which have an extreme amplitude (or in layman’s terms, volume level) of above 140dB could be described as inaudible because they could damage the ear and cause hearing loss. Finally, vibrations below the threshold of hearing would be inaudible. The threshold of hearing is generally reported as the RMS sound pressure of 20 µPa (micropascals) = 2×10−5 pascal (Pa). It is approximately the quietest sound a young human with undamaged hearing can detect at 1,000 Hz. The threshold of hearing is frequency-dependent and it has been shown that the ear’s sensitivity is best at frequencies between 1 kHz and 5 kHz. The vibrations created by a falling tree would be inaudible to “one” that was not “around.” However, the question only postulates the absence of a human. The existence of hearing animals in a forest environment would be likely and therefore, the compressions and rarefactions of air would have been heard and would be defined as sound.

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

The airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow is roughly 11 meters per second, or 24 miles per hour, beating its wings 7-9 times per second (rather than 43). This is based upon published species-wide averages of wing length and body mass, initial Strouhal estimates based on those averages and cross-species comparisons, the Lund wind tunnel study of birds flying at a range of speeds, and revised Strouhal numbers based on that study give an estimate that the average cruising airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second or 24 miles per hour. That being said, it depends on whether you are talking about an African or European swallow.

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

The amount of wood that woodchucks would chuck on a given day varies greatly with the individual woodchuck. According to a Wall Street Journal article, New York State wildlife expert Richard Thomas found that a woodchuck could chuck around 35 cubic feet of dirt in the course of digging a burrow. Thomas reasoned that if a woodchuck could chuck wood, he would chuck an amount equal to 700 pounds.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Is the chicken egg an egg that was directly laid by a chicken, or an egg that resulted directly in the birth of a chicken? Consequently by definition, according to the former, the chicken came first. If however, the definition was based on the latter, then the chicken egg came first.

Who wrote The Book of Love?

The Book of Love is a 1934 novel written by journalist Upton Sinclair, but you might also be referring to “The Book of Love” (also titled “(Who Wrote) The Book of Love”) which is a rock and roll song, originally by The Monotones. It was written by three members of the group, Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick.

What is The Matrix?

The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by The Wachowskis, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving. It was first released in North America on March 31, 1999, and in Australia on April 8, 1999, and is the first instalment in the Matrix series of films, comic books, video games, and animation.

Who’s on first?

The first baseman is named “Who.” Confusion is stemmed by the utterance “Who’s on first” which is ambiguous between the question being posed (which person is the first baseman?) and the answer to the question (the name of the first baseman is ‘Who’).

What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?

42

Do you expect me to talk?

No, Mr Bond. I expect you to die.

Taken from a very cool website – OHIOFI