• Question: How does helium affect the voice?

    Asked by louisthebest to Emma, Jimmy, Janet, Niall, Simon on 18 Mar 2013. This question was also asked by gracegreen.
    • Photo: Niall Crawford

      Niall Crawford answered on 18 Mar 2013:

      Helium is lighter than air (think about a helium balloon rising), and so when you have helium in your lungs, the sounds you produce are different because the noise waves act differently.

    • Photo: James Holloway

      James Holloway answered on 18 Mar 2013:

      Yes!

      When you speak you’re vocal cord makes the air vibrate in your throat.
      If you put light air in your throat (like helium) then the vibrations travel faster. Faster vibrations are heard by the ear as a higher pitched sound.

      Helium is a very small and light particle, you can make your voice sound like a booming demon with a gas made of heavy particles (like sulphur hexaflouride)

      Listen to his advice and don’t try this at home! (you can pass out or worse)

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