If I run the bath and close my eyes, I can tell when the water exiting the faucet goes from cold to hot. The loud rushing sound deepens by half an octave. What causes the tone to drop?
In: 67
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Hot water has a lower viscocity – it’s less ‘thick’. This gives it different physical properties, such as producing more bubbles, hence the difference in sound.
I can because my shower starts screaming when it hits the right temperature. Too cold or too hot and the sound doesn’t happen, but when it’s the right temp it emits this high pitch hissing sound and I hate it.
The tone change is because the viscosity if a liquid is related to it’s temperature. Although to the eye it isn’t that different to look at, it is “runnier” when hot. You can hear this in it’s pitch as it pours.
Think of hot honey/syrup Vs cold honey/syrup
[Tom Scott](https://youtu.be/Ri_4dDvcZeM) has a pretty cool short video about the fact we can hear temperature.
As others have said it’s to so with viscosity/density of warm/cold.
It also could be a problem with your regulator. Worth calling a plumber. We had that happen to us. Turns out the entire line was about to blow.
People have written in to complain about radio dramas where a character says they’re making a cup of tea, but are actually pouring cold water.
Thank you for this post, I always thought I could hear a difference, but I thought I might be crazy! 🤪
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