Oral (Vocal)
When we talk or sing sound comes out of our mouth and other people are able to distinguish it's meaning or purpose, but what is the physics behind this? Turns out when you speak or sing two skin flaps called vocal flaps, move in the back of your throat. This movement becomes more rapid when high tones are created and less rapid when when low tones are created. When your vocal flaps move, they vibrate the air within your esophagus. The rate of this movement dictates the different pitches and articulations we here in everyday speech and in music.
source:http://www.pacific-ent.com/images/pic-vocal-cord.jpg
Above is a picture of the vocal flaps located in the back of your throat. As you can observe, they exist in two states. The first state is for regular talking or singing. This is because the two flaps are close together and can be easily manipulated to alter sound waves and vibrations than if they were farther apart. The second state is obviously for breathing since the vocal flaps are spaced far apart, allowing oxygen to flow in as quickly as possible.
Quick Links
Vibration
Music
source: http://www.one-mind-one-energy
.com/images/tuning_fork.png
Tristan Van Cise
Physics 211
Fall 2016
David Newman
Website Project
