# Helium changing voice...?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 17, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750 "2003-02-17T23:50:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sfsuphysics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@sfsuphysics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sfsuphysics)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750/1 "2003-02-17T23:50:56Z")

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Here’s a question I had regarding a statement made in the thread of helium changing your voice…

[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mheliumsqueak.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mheliumsqueak.html)

“Helium is significantly less dense than air. As a result, the speed of sound is much higher in helium.”

Now my years of physics this sound counter intiutitve, as speed travels FASTER in denser objects, not in LESS dense objects.  
Bang a metal pole sound zips down it faster than through air.  
If you take an extreme case of a infintesimally low density, you get a slower speed (think vacuum of space, speed of sound = 0 )

Anyways, thanks 🙂

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**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750/2 "2003-02-18T00:47:36Z")

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yeah, I too thought it was a bit contradictory.

I remember being cautioned not to suck helium out of balloons becuase it tightened your throat and constricted your air passages (in turn raising your voice). I don’t knlow if this is true (helium is a noble gas, no? why should it affect a throat?).

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750/3 "2003-02-18T06:49:06Z")

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Quite often, there are previous threads about StaffReports, Cecil’s columns, etc. If you’re new, you might not think to search for them.

[Here’s One](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30772&highlight=helium) which addresses your concern. And, hopefully, explains it.

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**Author:** ![sfsuphysics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@sfsuphysics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sfsuphysics)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750/4 "2003-02-19T03:51:27Z")

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Yah saw the search after I posted, my apologies… since I had to register just to search, I figured I might as well post after I registered, that and I can’t edit/delete my post.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helium-changing-voice/155750/5 "2003-02-19T12:51:26Z")

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Nonetheless, **sfsuphysics** , welcome aboard, glad to have you with us, and hope that you’ll engage in more posting.