Final answer:
The difference in vocal folds between children and adults is mainly due to size and tension, with adult men having larger vocal cords than women and children, leading to deeper pitches. Gender and cultural factors also influence vocal characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference in vocal folds between children, adult men, and women is primarily due to size and tension changes that occur during puberty, especially in males. Children's vocal cords are smaller and have similar sizes for both sexes, resulting in higher-pitched voices. At puberty, the larynx grows significantly in males, and the shape of the resonant cavity changes, leading to deeper voices with lower predominant frequencies compared to those of women. Women's vocal folds are typically smaller than men's, which contributes to their voices being higher in pitch.
In addition to biological differences, cultural factors may influence how men and women use their voices. The way individuals talk can be shaped by socialization into their assigned gender category, which intensifies during adolescence. It also noted that men hear higher frequencies than women, which adds another layer to the auditory and vocal differences between sexes.