# Farts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708 "2005-03-09T20:10:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JHancock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@JHancock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHancock)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/1 "2005-03-09T20:10:44Z")
My sons asked me this and I said I would find out. Why do farts have noise? I have read the answer on what they are, but nowhere can I find why they are so noisy. So if anyone can, please tell me why farts have sound. Joyce ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/2 "2005-03-09T20:17:21Z")
SBDs don’t ---
**Author:** ![kezami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@kezami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kezami)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/3 "2005-03-09T20:47:49Z")
Fast moving air through a small opening - can you whistle? Slow the air down or enlarge the opening and what do you get…the dreaded SBD!! ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/4 "2005-03-09T21:36:47Z")
A difficult topic to research, indeed. I believe **kezami** has the right of it, but here’s some additional information. [The Facts About Flatulence](http://www.unusualresearch.com/fart/fart.htm) > [@](#): > > The loud ones are basically a function of three things… the volume of gas, the force with which it is expelled, and the presence of hemorrhoids or other anatomical features that could resonate. "People with large hemorrhoids, for example, will have louder flatus than people with lax sphincters. Vegetarians, who actually pass a lot of gas, frequently have quiet, frequent flatus because they have large, bulky stools and looser sphincters. They will be detected socially only if it’s foul-smelling; whereas, carnivores may have less gas but, since they have tighter sphincters and may be more constipated, have high drama flatus. [SmellyShit.com](http://smellyshit.com/farts.html) > [@](#): > > \*\*Why do farts make noise? \*\* > The sounds are produced by vibrations of the anal opening. Sounds depend on the velocity of expulsion of the gas and the tightness of the sphincter muscles of the anus. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/5 "2005-03-09T22:17:04Z")
High Drama Flatus. /not gonna say it. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/6 "2005-03-09T22:17:35Z")
Demonstration for your son: blow up a balloon, wet the opening, stretch the opening out flat and slowly let the air out. Entertaining and informative! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/7 "2005-03-09T22:21:14Z")
What better place to link to The Master’s column on [Le Petomane?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_394) ---
**Author:** ![JHancock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@JHancock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHancock)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/8 "2005-03-09T22:56:49Z")
I will be discussing this with the boys tonight. My first thoughts were since the anus lacks vocal cords that there had to be some science explanation such as volumne and vibration but wasn’t sure. As I told the boys, belchs make noise because its air passing over vocal cords, but farts I wasn’t sure about. The things parents have to discuss with their children : ) Joyce ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farts/293708/9 "2005-03-09T23:15:39Z")
> [@JHancock](#): > > I will be discussing this with the boys tonight. My first thoughts were since the anus lacks vocal cords that there had to be some science explanation such as volumne and vibration but wasn’t sure. As I told the boys, belchs make noise because its air passing over vocal cords, but farts I wasn’t sure about. The things parents have to discuss with their children : ) Joyce Belches do NOT make noise due to air passing over the vocal folds. These are located at the top of the trachea (the path from the lungs to the mouth). Belches originate in the stomach and travel up the esophagus.