Mythbusters fun with gas redux

[lucke0204]

You have fallen into the group of common people who misconceive why. There is no change in the vocal chords. It is the speed of sound that increases and decreases in lighter/ heavier air that creates the semblance of a changing pitch, while the pitch remains unchanged. Just like good old Jamie said.

[truelyfine]

@lucke0204 Gas is a transmissive medium, which means the speed of sound in the gas varies by the type, but a sound passing from one gas to another does not change in frequency (think light going from air through glass and into water - the color/frequency does not change, only the local speed). Because of this it must be the frequency at the source that changes. Helium causes the vocal cords to vibrate faster because the resonant frequency of the mouth/throat/larynx goes up.

[5335RR]

SMART ASSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!



[shadylady9116]

shut up ur dumb nobody cares

[shyguy8975]

shut !mythbusters is the most awsome show ever. no need to ruin it. and really? "see you all later. chow' really dude?

[instrodude94]

how much does SF6 cost

[Broodsnijplank]

I was thinking about that as well, because, if mythbusters had it right, when it came out of his mouth, the sound would move through normal air again, and we'd here it as his normal voice

[Wolfgamer94]

huh ?!?!?!?!?!?!

[MegaGamer67]

no one cares u peice of shit

[Brazard23]

Was there really a point to this?

[truelyfine]

What? You've never had a theoretical bullshit session with friends where you delve into the intricacies of some narrow issue for the fun of discussion?

Besides, what's the point to Myth Busters, beyond those huge 'boy did that blow up good' smiles I see on their faces?

[tatazike]

The gas changes the vibrations of the vocal cords.

[MrPingypop12]

Thanks for correcting the mythbusters man you are a genieus good job!

[obeymckeg]

Unnecessary, you're an idiot.

[h4ppydriver]

He is not, explains correctly and with respect, YOU are an idiot ahaha ... also i do ... this video is nice

[cheerchum27]

lol nice job correcting the mythbusters

[ghjimk]

you suck gurka

[FaiIure]

It's great to see someone correct Mythbusters myths, good work!

[DODODOK]

JUST INHALE SOME AND MAKE US LAUGH.

Haha just kidding. Nice explanation.

[cptnunderwhere]

Yes, you are basically correct, but you should clarify what you mean as medium, mixture, and "heavier". The most correct way to state it I believe would be that the higher the atomic/molecular weight of the gas, the higher its viscosity, and the more resistance it would offer against the motion of the vibrating vocal folds. All this, while being more or less independent of molar concentration, temp and pressure (not including the gradient from infra- and supra- glottal pressures).

[FaiIure]

We get the picture.

[truelyfine]

@cptnunderwhere Wikipedia lists viscosity of helium as slightly higher than air. So that leaves us back at gas velocity as the cause for pitch change. The higher velocities for lighter molecules (higher speed of sound) must translate into faster oscillation of standing waves behind the vocal cords (elastic storage of energy in compressed gas and stretching vocal cords. The vocal cords alternately restrict the air flow and let it pass each time they vibrate closed and open.

[UltimateBlink182Fan]

dude

no one cares

[jarhed8]

wow what a nerd

[Bukkaketears]

Also, not once does he even say the word pitch, so technically, he is 100% correct.

Helium with make your voice sound higher, and SF6 will make it sound lower.

[truelyfine]

My argument is that He will make the vocal chords oscillate faster, and SF6 make them oscillate slower. Not just sound higher or lower, but actually change frequency of vibration.

[volval0]

ah shut up no one cares

[lesandallyssa]

By He and SF6 changing the frequency of vibration, they are changing the sound produced, therefore He and SF6 changes the sound that is produced. You are just stating how it changes the sound.

[cptnunderwhere]

No, you are wrong. The whole point of the experiment is WHY THE GASES CREATE THESE EFFECTS, NOT WHETHER THEY OCCUR OR NOT.

[monomalvado]

The word you're looking for is Timbre.

Because the gasses are lighter and heavier, respectively, they raise and lower the Timbre of the sound, not the pitch. If you were singing, C would still be C, but in a lower octive. :)

[truelyfine]

Your use of timbre implies integer multiples or integer divisions of the frequency. My use of pitch was to describe a continuous frequency change dependent on gas concentrations. So, no, not timbre.

[Danny7930]

SHUT UP

[234drummer]

oyur a douch bag

[truelyfine]

Note I wave my hands up and down in the video, but upon reflection the vocal chords move more sideways against each other in the throat -TF

[collegeBoi15]

thanks for adding that. good to know. :D

[brawlerballer762]

nice. screw wildrider001 5/5

[iam2000pounds]

lol peters dad.

[tiptep]

You're right,it does change the frequency of your vocal cords... thus changing the pitch.

duh...

[truelyfine]

Yes they do

[Cyr1216]

i really liked what you had to say, and even more, you are very humble. :)

are you a professor?