Helium changes his voice. Why does helium change the voice? Pyotr Alekseevich Obraztsov

Sound is the propagation of waves in an elastic medium (gas, liquid, solid) and is born from vibrations of something (a ruler clamped in a vice, a loudspeaker membrane, air in a pipe, a string, etc.). The higher the vibration frequency (the greater the number of vibrations per second), the higher (thinner) the sound. On the contrary, the lower the vibration frequency, the lower (rougher) the sound. We cannot hear too high a sound (ultrasound, with a frequency above 20 kHz). The human ear also cannot perceive sounds that are too low (infrasound, with a frequency below 16 Hz).

If you inhale helium (it is better to exhale deeply before doing this), then the ligaments will not be in a normal air environment, but in a helium environment. Helium is a very light gas, which under normal conditions has a density 7 times less than that of air. In a less dense environment, ligaments (like strings, for example) vibrate at a higher frequency. Imagine clapping your hands in water and in air - just like it is easier for ligaments to vibrate in helium than in air, which is seven times more dense.

It can be assumed that if you breathe in some gas (harmless, of course), the density of which is greater than that of air, then your voice, on the contrary, will become lower.

Such a harmless and colorless gas exists and is often used in physical demonstrations. This is sulfur hexafluoride (or sulfur fluoride (VI), SF 6). Its density under normal conditions is 5 times higher than the density of air. The ligaments in it vibrate with less frequency and the voice therefore becomes rougher.

Let us note as additional information that in addition to its high density, sulfur hexafluoride has a high breakdown voltage (89 kV/cm), i.e., it is a very good insulator (this is shown in the video). This property is used in high-voltage electrical engineering, and one of the names of this gas - SF6 - is an abbreviation for "electric gas", which was given in the USSR, where this property was discovered in the 30s.

It is also interesting to know what frequencies the human voice is capable of producing. The best voices are trained, trained singing voices. The lowest sounds are in the bass (80 Hz-350 Hz), the highest are in the soprano (up to 1400 Hz). Some singers are able to play the F note of the third octave (aria of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute") - 1396.9 Hz and even the note G of the third octave (aria "Io non chiedo, eterni Dei" for soprano and orchestra, Mozart KV316) - 1568 Hz.

There are also incredible records for hitting the lowest or highest notes. Thus, the lowest note, practically inaudible by the ear, was recorded in the performance of Tim Storms from the USA - 8 Hz. Singer Mariah Carey sang a note up to the 4th octave (2093 Hz). In 2014, a national record was set in Ukraine (Kyiv) - singer Svetlana Podyakova reached the 5th octave! And in 2008, Adam Lopez played the note C-sharp of the fifth octave, for which there is not even a key on the piano (the rightmost key of the piano is up to the 5th octave) - this is more than 4000 Hz!

And this without any helium and sulfur hexafluoride!

Many people have tried inhaling helium from balloons and speaking in an unusual, funny voice, or watching friends do it. At the same time, the human voice becomes higher, thinner and resembles a child’s voice. Why does helium have such an effect on the voice, and are there substances that have the opposite effect?

Helium balloons are sold at any holiday supplies store. They are lighter than balloons inflated with ordinary air, and if they are released, they will fly high into the sky. But if you untie the string and inhale helium into your lungs, you get a very funny voice as you exhale.

The sounds that a person pronounces arise as a result of vibration of the vocal cords. Our ligaments vibrate elastically in air, the density of which at 20 degrees is about 1.2 kg/m3. Helium is an inert gas, colorless and odorless, whose density is several times lower than that of air. At the same temperature, the density of helium is only 0.18 kg/m3. The gas, which is less dense than air, does not provide sufficient resistance, the vocal cords vibrate at a higher frequency and the voice becomes higher.

But such a miraculous effect, as it turned out, is not observed in all people. For some women who have a naturally high-pitched voice, inhaling helium makes little difference.

The question quite naturally arises: isn’t it harmful to have fun in this way? Of course, breathing helium is unnatural for humans. The gas itself is chemically inert, that is, under normal conditions it does not enter into chemical reactions with surrounding substances and does not form stable compounds. This is the basis for the idea that inhaling helium is harmless fun. But it is safe to breathe this gas only in small quantities. Inhaling helium instead of regular air for a long time will cause the body to begin to lack oxygen, which may not end as fun as it started.

But after inhaling another gas - sulfur fluoride - you can observe the opposite effect. This gas is very dense, 5 times denser than ordinary air. When it is inhaled, the vocal cords vibrate at a lower frequency, and the voice becomes low and rough, even in young girls who naturally have a high voice.

It would seem that this topic has nothing to do with vocals. More likely to chemistry... Or physics... Or acoustics, as part of physics... And yet the influence HELIUM(and not only him, as you will learn from the article) on VOICE shows the validity of the view of how the human voice arises and what laws it obeys.

So, when inhaling a light inert gas - helium, for example, from balloons, a person’s voice completely changes. Don't you know about this yet? Yes, yes, amazing things are nearby...

Sounds really funny! The effect is so interesting that even such famous people as the hosts of the “MythBusters” program on the Discovery Channel did not pass by. But!

The video is in English, but it’s not scary, there is a completely suitable translation:

“I promise it will be cool, but you have to promise that NEVER You won't repeat this at home! OK? OK! And now... Everyone knows that my voice will sound higher if I inhale helium! This is because it is 6 times lighter than air, which means my vocal cords will vibrate faster and this makes my voice sound much higher!
And now... I’ll breathe in sulfur hexafluoride, which is 6 times heavier than air, and my voice will sound something like this...
My voice sounded much lower...
And I'm still having fun!
THIS IS SCIENCE !!!»

An inquisitive and curious person would naturally like to know WHY is this happening? And there are so many answers to this question... One of them has already been given - my vocal cords will vibrate faster... But is this really so?

There are also other “reasons” - the difference in air and helium pressure, “compression” of the vocal cords, and even the fact that INERT(!) gas somehow affects the STRUCTURE vocal cords! It's mind boggling!

People don’t know physics... Not at all...

But the true reason is quite simple and has long been studied by science. Yes, in fairness it must be admitted that ligaments operating in a medium not of air, but of helium (and, of course, sulfur hexafluoride) vibrate a little faster (slower). But only A LITTLE! And this degree of change in the speed of oscillations cannot in any way affect the voice SO MONSTROUS! The main factor is different.

Think for yourself, if the vocal cords themselves experienced any impact, then the voice could be higher or lower, but its timbre would not change! The voice would still be there HUMAN, albeit lower or higher. But something completely different is observed - INHUMANITY vote! It is the change VOLUME in the direction of its “pinocchio”, “cartoonishness” causes uncontrollable laughter! The same effect occurs when the voice is “lowered” – “demonic”, “monstrous”, but in any case – there is no resemblance to the human voice.

But TIMBRE human voice - a set of formants, as described in the article "What are formants?". The formants themselves are impossible without the participation RESONATOR SYSTEMS human body. And not only! Higher HUMAN a voice is a complex sound wave consisting of the same formants, but not only the formants themselves are modified, but also their individual location in the spectrum of the voice. Therefore, we hear, although high (or low), but, most importantly, a human voice. Change ENVIRONMENTS, replacing air with another gas does not lead to a change in the configuration of the resonator cavities; as a result, the formants do not shift relative to each other, but simply change their frequency. The hearing records this as an “artificial” voice.

This is the confirmation of both the existence of the resonator system itself and its fundamental influence on the phenomenon of voice itself. Well, to clarify the process from the point of view of physics... If you please:

“The human vocal tract consists of vocal cords and a resonator filled with air (or helium): lungs, respiratory tract, cranial cavities. The cords generate a weak sound; without a resonator we might not hear it. The resonant frequencies of the vocal tract depend on its volume and shape. Helium has a lower density than air, so the speed of sound in it is higher (965 m/s versus 331). Frequency, wavelength and speed of sound in gases are related by certain relationships. This results in the fact that, although the resonator configuration does not change, higher frequencies become resonant, and the overall spectrum of the voice shifts to the higher frequency region. In musical terms, helium does not change the pitch of the voice, but its timbre. More precisely, the height changes, but very little - it depends mainly on the tension of the vocal cords, and when exhaling helium it is slightly different than when exhaling air.”

“... the pharynx is, from an acoustics point of view, a volumetric resonator tuned to a certain wavelength (not frequency!). And if a person breathes air, then a sound (voice) of a certain frequency is obtained... But if now instead of air we take helium, then FOR THE SAME WAVELENGTH due to the higher speed of sound, a different frequency will be obtained - a higher one. And when moving from one environment to another (from a helium-filled throat to normal air), the frequency of sound no longer changes.”

So, dear reader, the ligaments do not change in any way! It's all about ENVIRONMENT! And the main “builder” of our voice is resonance.

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The density of helium is almost 7 times less than that of ordinary air. When this inert gas is inhaled by the vocal cords, their vibration frequency increases and the voice sounds in a higher pitch. The sounds produced resemble the voice of a cartoon character for some, and the squeak of a mouse or the speech of a baby for others. But, in any case, it becomes .

But after inhaling sulfur fluoride, a heavy gas that is 5 times greater, even girls begin to speak in a low bass voice.

Is inhaling helium safe?

In general, it is considered quite safe, since oxygen enters the human body along with the gas. In addition, it is difficult to recognize a person who has inhaled helium, except perhaps for the moment when he begins to say something.

And the gas itself cannot be determined - it has neither smell nor taste. However, there may be some side effects from helium.

Some people may experience signs of oxygen deprivation, such as dizziness, headache, difficulty breathing, nausea. The vocal cords vibrate at a higher frequency when inhaling helium, which produces the desired effect, but they can be damaged as a result, a process that is considered irreversible.

Deep and frequent breaths of this inert gas can provoke the formation of helium bubbles in the blood. Once they reach the brain, they can cause a stroke and even be fatal.

The usual oversaturation of the lungs with helium may also turn out to be unsafe, when the oxygen content in the human body is significantly reduced.

Here's another interesting fact: if a person is temporarily placed in a chamber that is filled only with helium, after a while he will suffocate. This is due to the fact that such a gas contains only a couple of tenths of a percent of oxygen.

In addition to this, we can add that pampering with helium is especially dangerous for pregnant women, not only for the expectant mother, but also for her baby. Therefore, it is best to simply admire the light balls without trying to inhale the gas contained in them.

If you decide to try the effect of laughing gas on yourself, do not inhale a large amount of helium at one time. It’s better to take a few small breaths, and when the effect of the gas wears off, try again, just don’t overdo it, because health and life are the most important thing.