Klarinet Archive - Posting 000078.txt from 1998/12

From: Grant Green <gdgreen@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] The helionet
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 1998 22:31:24 -0500

Ran a few figures:

The speed of sound in air is proportional to the square root of (the
pressure divided by the density). I'll assume the pressure is a constant.
The density of a gas is roughly proportional to its molecular weight:

He - 4 g/mol
dry air ~ 29 g/mol
CO2 - 44 g/mol
SF6 - 146 g/mol

If we say that the speed of sound in air is "1", the speed of sound in He
is SQRT(29/4) @-----.8, and SF6 = SQRT(29/146)
@-----. So, playing on helium should raise the pitch by over an octave,
CO2 will send you a few steps flat, and SF6 would put you in the bass
clarinet range (or between bass and Eb contra).

Enjoy!

Grant

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Grant Green gdgreen@-----.com
http://www.contrabass.com
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