Can high singing break glass? Of course, it can. You can shatter the wine glass when all conditions are perfect. You will need the resonance frequency of your voice to match the frequency of the glass.
The Physics Behind Breaking Glass
Science proposes that high singing can break the glass. Like any other material in the globe, all pieces of glass have a resonant frequency. It is the speed where glass can vibrate if something like sound waves bumps or disturb it.
The glass wine goblet is typically resonant owing to its hollow structure. It is the reason why it makes amusing ringing sounds when clinking.
If a singer produces a tone similar to that ringing sound, this tone can vibrate every air molecule of the glass with its natural frequency. It will cause the glass to begin vibrating too.
Hidden cracks and gaps appear on all material surfaces. Yet, sizes and locations can vary unexpectedly. A wine glass that looks the same to naked eyes can possess completely different fracture strengths. It will allow some wine glasses to bear a higher level of sound than others.
Volume is the primary element to shatter the glass. The reason is that the loudness of sounds links to the range it can displace every air molecule. The sound will simply pass from this molecule to another until it beats the glass.
When a sound becomes louder, it will push air at the glass stronger. The impact looks much like the push of a child on a swing. The stronger the shove gets, the higher the child can go.
However, a shove will not affect if the sound can match the natural frequency of the glass.
The First Singer Who Used The Voice to Break Glass
Enrico Caruso, an Italian opera tenor in the 1900s, was the first singer who broke the glass with just his singing voice.
He did not intend to do this kind of thing. It occurred at an accurate time when this situation gathered all good conditions.
He could possess a high voice and the capability of sustaining the tone long enough. Another perfect condition is appropriate resonation to project sounds.
In addition, the glass was a beautiful, crystal champagne goblet followed by a natural frequency. Enrico Caruso could possess all the proper vocal faculties to fit the resonant frequency of this dedicated glass precisely.
One opinion argues that it is a myth. Yet, physics suggests that it is doable.
Opera Voice Is Not A Must To Break A Must To The Glass
You may have a high appreciation of acoustical properties to the high tone. These properties are essential conditions for shattering a glass (but not all the glasses).
In 2005, one program show MythBusters experimented. They recruited a rock singer and voice instructor Jamie Vendera to break crystal items with his highest voice.
He attempted to hit twelve wine glasses before he stumbled on the lucky glass. It splintered because of the blast. It has been the first time that a single voice could exactly hit the glass on video.
When the crystal item becomes fine, it will have more chances for resonating elements. These factors will make it possible for high singing to fit the vibration of a glass.
Moreover, it is not essential for someone to sing opera to shatter a glass. To put it simply, you do not need to become a singer at all.
As we mentioned before, it is the range of vibrations. They will cause acoustical resonant qualities of singing to fit the right natural frequency of this glass that make it broken.
Any singer may find it very easy to accomplish this experiment owing to the trained voice. However, as you watch the following video, the cute boy does not have a trained voice to sing the best.
The most important thing is resonation. Let’s look at the definition and the way of operating resonance.
The Concept Of Vocal Resonance
Can singing really break glass? Any object in this world contains a resonant frequency to vibrate from. Another name is natural frequency. Two words offer an illustration of resonant operation, the force, and the energy.
To create an object resonation, you will need a force to make it back to its original status using the correct amount of energy. It aims at keeping this item vibrating. The energy here is your voice and its natural frequency to make the correct number of vibrations.
Thus, the vibration of one object (your voice) will cause another object (the glass goblet) to begin vibrating (resonance).
Here is one example of resonance. You can utilize one grand piano. Then, set those strings of the piano in full view. Then, you can see resonant frequency. It is the way that resonance works.
Keep singing into this grand piano where every string gets exposed. (Singing the vowel Ahh with the loudest volume is our recommendation)
Ensure to maintain the high tone with a lot of breath assistance.
You should open your mouth in full shape as it can produce the best result.
When you are singing into the grand piano, take notice of these strings vibrating. It is the resonance frequency.
Every person possesses 6 major resonant areas:
- Mouth
- Larynx
- Pharynx
- Nasal cavity
- Skull
- Chest
Resonance frequency will amplify the sound.
What Makes The Glass Break?
To know how a glass goblet can break with the voice, it is useful to comprehend how the glass itself can resonate beforehand. Therefore, spend some minutes in this part. Let’s dive into the six faculties for resonance.
Six faculties making the wine glass to become broken
Medium
It is the way for the object to travel through. In this situation, it is the wine glass.
If the wine glass becomes finer, it is much easier for it to shatter. Medium is simply a term for an item. Hence, do not mind if this word is strange to you.
Sound Intensity
To see how resonance works, you will have a physical property. The measurement is the decibel, which refers to the word “sound intensity.”
One more time, it is just a scientific word and does not make any difference.
Amplitude
The word for the height of sound waves is amplitude. This word may not be strange to many people, particularly if you are a singer.
We will try to give you the simplest explanation. There are two sounds with similar traveling distances. The sound with the highest amplitude would be the loudest. Very simple, right?
Wavelength
It refers to the length from one peak of the sound wave to the following peak. You can think about the ocean wave to make this term more familiar.
Pitch
Can high pitch singing break glass? It is a popular term in music that links to the resonance frequency of vibrations. Pitch also indicates that one tone is high or low.
It is crucial to comprehend this term. In the process of the experiment, the pitch of the wine glass and the sound must be a perfect match.
Harmonics
You can relate to stringed instruments. There may be a variety of wave patterns based on the harmonic structure of sounds. Any of these things including guitar, bass, violin, piano, cello, and viola is a stringed instrument.
Then, you know how resonance works. The fun fact is that it is the same principle for perfect singing voices. It is also one of the key factors that many people miss in most voices.
Enjoy the following video where this person is struggling to shatter a wine glass.
Next, we would like to introduce you to a simple and detailed guideline to shatter your first wine glass with just your voice.
Simplify The Process
Let’s go directly to the main points and look at essential steps to use your sound to break a glass.
A step-by-step instruction using the voice to break a glass.
Choose one suitable wine glass. Keep in mind that not all wine glasses are possible. Make sure you are employing the crystal item as it will resonate at a certain resonance frequency.
To check this natural frequency, soak your fingers in the water. The next thing is rubbing it slightly around the rim of a wine glass.
Your fingers will exactly vibrate on the rim of this wine glass. When you take the right resonance frequency the glass will hum. You can do this a few times.
Then, you should make the pitch of your voice to fit the resonance frequency of the vibration of the wine glass. It will hit the glass and it will start vibrating as well. (It can take a lot of tries so do not give up.)
You should sing with the loudest volume. Then, the glass is moving as it is vibrating further and quicker than the material making the wine glass is moving. (Additional volume is completely needed)
When you can achieve these conditions, the glass will break. Ensure that your distance to the glass is short and wear the goggles to give your face protection.
The sound of your singing should control a hundred small pushes around you. Once you can do this, the energy of all small forces adds up.
You also need to consider the accurate timing and the wine glass gets pressed. It will finally shatter. Congrats!
Some useful Tips & Conclusion
Warming up the voice right before you attempt to shatter the glass is one suggestion. You can do it in 15 minutes or longer. There is proof that it is useful to warm up in accomplishing the process.
You should choose the correct pitch for a considerable amount of time. You should not miss any step.
It is much better to gain the loudest volume to shatter the glass. You can inhale a big amount of fresh air.
The other consideration is wearing protection glasses during this experiment. You should prevent your face and eyes from becoming cut as the glass shatters.
The best option is singing an “ah” vowel when the glass is near your mouth.
If the glass does not break, raise the volume and extend the duration of your singing.
If you are not confident that your voice is right or that the wine glass vibrates, you can carry out these things below.
Put a straw into the glass.
Move the pitch higher or lower till the straw starts shaking.
It will be the expected pitch you need.
