Why does helium make the voice funny?

Question

Why does helium make the voice funny?

Answer 1

good question.

Answer 2

the higher speed of sound in helium changes the resonances of your vocal tract. In particular, the formants or resonant frequencies are higher. These formants affect the timbre of your voice, as well as what vowel people hear. It's the change in timbre that people notice in helium voice. This sometimes makes them mistakenly think the pitch of the voice is higher.

Answer 3

It's not helium, it's any gas. The incoming air turns your voice chords the other way, and they sound funny. They always come back to their original position.

People use helium because it's benign (not bad for you.)

Answer 4

No idea but its sounds hilarious

Answer 5

Helium is lighter than air and it makes your voice strings move faster,oh yeah try to play a blowing instrument when you have sipped in some helium ^_^

Answer 6

Helium is significantly less dense than air. As a result, the speed of sound is much higher in helium. By inhaling helium you are effectively increasing the speed of the sound of your voice.

If you want more details and a demonstration, see this: http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/PHYSICS_!/SP...

Answer 7

My brother is an expert on deep sea diving where they often use Helium/Oxygen mixtures to breathe.

I asked him this very question, his reply was that the speed of sound is greater travelling through helium than through air, he should know.

Answer 8

The pitch and tone of the sound by your vocal cords is partially affected by the way air moves through your throat.  Note that you can't talk if you stop your breathing.  Helium diffuses at a different speed than air (mostly nitrogen and oxygen) consequently when you exhale a baloon full of helium, its faster rate of diffusion causes the pitch change in your voice.  Helium is inert, it won't hurt you.  There are some minor risks involved in depriving yourself of oxygen, but a balloon or two here and there isn't going to hurt you.

Answer 9

The air from your voice travels faster through helium, so it sounds higher.