Posted by 05nomar05 on 2/1/2015 12:31:00 PM (view original):
So...1 ball was around 2 pounds less and the other 10 were just a tick or 2 under 12.5. Classic.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000466783/article/more-details-on-the-investigation-of-patriots-deflated-footballs
You probably won't hear this much from Seahawks fans, including that Nye Science guy or whatever, but I don't think there is anything to this story at all.
I did not go to your link, and I am not an expert, but I do however have an idea about the science involved. The Ideal Gas Law,
when applied properly should give you an approximate linear change in the percentage of absolute pressure to the linear change in the absolute temperature. This means that if you measure absolute temperature (in Kelvin) and absolute (not gage) pressures, the change in temperature is about 5% (difference 75F and 50F). The associated change in pressure would put the 10.5 psi (gage) at about 7% change from 12.5 psi (gage). A little less than expected, but not unreasonable. I'm betting that particular ball was probably underinflated to begin with. If the other balls were all at, say 11.5, that would be reasonable. This is not, by any means, a perfect analysis and it ignores some factors (like the elasticity of ball - and its potential volume change), but it certainly convinces me there is not likely to be any smoking gun.
Bottom line? Nothing to see here...
2/3/2015 8:21 AM (edited)