• Question: Why does helium make your voice go squeaky ?

    Asked by parfrey72 to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 3 Jul 2012. This question was also asked by ellieyolo5.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 3 Jul 2012:

      Sound travels faster in helium, and so bounces around your throat more quickly. I once sat in a physics lecture about this, where the lecturer also breathed in Sulpher Hexaflouride. Sound travels slowly in this, so it gave him a much deeper voice!

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 3 Jul 2012:

      I always thought that it somehow tightened your vocal cords. I’ve learnt something!

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