2007-06-24 08:47:55 · 6 answers · asked by al pedo estoy! 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Helium is less dense than air, so your voice comes out higher.
2007-06-24 08:51:19 · answer #1 · answered by physandchemteach 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The frequencies in your voice are determined by the wavelengths that "fit" inside your throat: for a sound to fit inside, an integral number of half-wavelengths must fit into the full voice cavity. The relationship between frequency and wavelength is: frequency = speed/wavelength So now if you suck up helium, since the mass of helium atoms is much less than that of normal air, and the speed of sound scales with sqrt(Temperature/avg_molecular_mass), (I'm leaving out Boltzmann's constant and the adiabatic constant), the speed of sound in helium is much higher than in air. So for the same wavelengths, the frequencies are much higher. And that's why your voice pitch suddenly is so high.
2016-04-01 02:27:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Helium is a lot less dense than air.
Your vocal chords are used to varying your voice with air, not helium.
Therefore, they squeeze at the helium in an unnatural way, altering the pitch of your voice.
2007-06-24 08:52:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with you talking/breathing helium instead of air. I'm not sure why. The weight of helium (lighter than air) probably has something to do with it.
2007-06-24 08:51:49 · answer #4 · answered by Big Mike T. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
helium is lighter than oxygen so your vocal chords vibrate faster, resulting in a higher pitch.
2007-06-24 08:55:44 · answer #5 · answered by Vito1964 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question's posted up on the yahoo homepage! Go to:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070213173909AAN126U
2007-06-24 08:51:06 · answer #6 · answered by queenofblank 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋