Why does helium make your voice change?

Why does helium make your voice change?

• Answer:

  Helium moves faster than the normal air we use in speaking or singing, causing the voice to sound different than usual when helium passes through it. Exhaled helium will result in a distinctive squeaky vocal tone.Vocal ApparatusThe human voice produces tones by pushing air past the vocal cords, according to the University of New South Wales. The relationship between vocal cord tension, air pressure and physical resonance determines the tone quality.HeliumHelium has less density than the mix of gases found in normal atmospheric air. This lighter-than-air property allows helium-filled balloons to float, according to Elmhurst College.Tonal ChangesHelium changes vocal quality because it moves faster than normal air. The faster motion alters the ways the tone resonates in the vocal tract, changing the sound of the voice.PitchHelium-aided speech does not actually extend "higher" than normal speech. While the voice sounds thinner and squeakier when produced with exhaled helium, the actual pitch of the sound does not change.WarningDeep inhalations of helium can cause asphyxia and even death. The inhaled helium makes it impossible for oxygen to enter the lungs, according to Balloon Artists and Suppliers Association Australasia.Source:http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/phys_about/PHYSICS!/SPEECH_HELIUM/speech.htmlhttp://www.balloonartists.com.au/helium.htm