In: Physics
The first and second formants when you make an "ee" vowel sound are approximately 270 Hz and 2300 Hz . The speed of sound in your vocal tract is approximately 350 m/s . If you breathe a mix of oxygen and helium (as deep-sea divers often do), the speed increases to 810m/s
With this mix of gases, what are the frequencies of the two formants?
Wavelength will remain same, just medium has changed from air to mixture of gases (air & helium).
For first formant,
λ = v1/f1 = v2/f2 350/270= 810/ f = 625 Hz
For second formant, 350/2300 = 810/f f = 5323 Hz