How Air Horns Work

The Basics

An air horn is a small hand-held device used to emit a series of loud, high pitched horn noises. Because of the loudness and pitch of the noise emitted, air horns are popular for both practical purposes and recreational purposes. To make its sound, the air horn pushes a large amount of air at very high speeds through a series of tubes that mimic the tubes on various musical instruments like a trumpet. Once the air passes through the tubes, it travels through an attached horn on the top of the device and out into the air from which the sound comes.

Air Compressors

Inside a standard air horn is a tiny air compressor. This compressor is what generates the movement of the air through the device at such high speeds. The air compressor is tied to a button on the top of the device. When a user presses the button, the air compressor is on and generating air. When the user releases the button, the air compressor is turned off and no sound will come out. More specifically, the button on the top of the air compressor is tied to an electrical circuit. When the button is pressed down, the circuit is complete and electricity activates the air compressor. When the button is released, the circuit is broken and no power can reach the compressor.

Tubes

The tubes inside an air compressor operate much in the same way that a brass musical instrument does. The tubes are shaped and turned in such a way to maximize the air pressure as the air passes through them at such high speeds to amplify the natural sound of the air. The air vibrates against the tubes to create sound. The horn itself on the top of the air horn acts as a kind of speaker, and is shaped in such a way to amplify the sound as it is released from the device. This is why air horns are capable of producing such a loud, high pitched sound.

References

• Air Horns? How Do They Work?