Posted on 01/21/2015 4:04:41 AM PST by Boston Blackie
The NFL is investigating whether the Patriots deflated footballs that were used in their AFC championship game victory over the Colts.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
Perhaps it, the 12th ball, did not get wet, and therefore did not cool down as much.
To paraphrase Judge Judy: So Tommy, were you lying then when you said the interinflated footballs charge was nonsense (i.e., that you didn’t know anything about it) or are you lying now when you say you like underinflated footballs (i.e., that of course you knew about it because you handle footballs for a living) ... hmmmm, little Lady Brady?
Temperature was in the low 50s/high 40s during the game.
Well, you’ve changed my mind: I HATE HIM! *SMIRK*
(Um, I’ve advanced myself in my career, sometimes by any means necessary, in my youth.)
And you have every right to stick up for them...
I’d just look up ole Pete’s history now that I brought it to your attention...
And full disclosure from me: I went to UCLA...but am still a Clay Matthews fan.
OBTW, I like Wilson too....I just feel bad he plays for Seattle...JMO.....
good luck in the game....will be rooting for the Pats....sorry.
Just too bad the Packers had to blow the game in the last couple minutes. Seahawks need a humility check. Pete Carroll came to Seattle after been found guilty of NCAA infrations which resulted in USC’s entire record being vacated from the undefeated 2005–06 regular season.
I don’t doubt that they weigh the balls. There is a specification for weight of the balls that must be met. I AM doubting that the amount of air let out of the balls to deflate them from 13 to 10.5 psi would be detected by this weighing. IOW, the weight spec is independent of the pressure spec.
Nitrogen is used in tires for two reasons:
1. Air compressors tend to allow moisture into the air stream. Moisture tends to yield a more sensitive pressure response to temperature (water can condense or vaporize with temperature changes).
2. Rubber is less permeable to nitrogen than it is to other components of air.
The inherent response of a gas pressure to temperature is, in fact, independent of the composition of the gas. That’s basic kinetic theory (from which the ideal gas law is derived). Filling with dry air would give the same result as filling with nitrogen as far as pressure response is concerned.
That makes sense scientifically. The difference in weight for a helium filled ball vs an air filled one (assuming 13 psi) is roughly 2 grams per liter of volume. Assuming an NFL ball is roughly one liter in volume (just a rough estimate, but probably not too far off) that means that the weight of a helium filled ball it 2 grams lower than that of an air filled ball. The only other factor is buoyancy, which is dependent on the denisty of the ball. Increased buoyancy would tend to lead to longer distances travelled (the buoyant force would oppose gravity). The density of the helium filled ball would be slightly lower, but it’s negligible so the increase in buoyancy would also be negligible, which is right in line with what Mythbusters found.
Yes. Thank you. I knew about the permeability and rubber, and knew it was moisture in normal air compression vs. nitrogen, but failed to point that out. That lack of moisture is what helps the nitrogen-inflated tires remain at a more constant pressure.
Brady has said he prefers his footballs to be underinflated. Aaron Rodgers likes them over-inflated. As the ones who handle the ball the most during any game, quarterbacks have their preferences for a reason. And you can guarantee that centers also have their preferences as well.
In my playing experience, I could easily tell the difference between ball types, sizes, weights, etc. (just as I have preferences for certain weapons on the range, btw). And I knew which balls I could get better reactions with from the grip and feel and would adjust accordingly. Similar to basketballs as well. 1-lb of PSI will definitely alter how a basketball bounces when dribbling or how a shot comes off the rim. In football, the same. In my case, tighter grip meant tighter spiral and a harder throw into traffic with less chance of bouncing off the receiver.
Even at my amateur level, I was much more confident and accurate with a softer ball. Fortunately for me, our practice balls were so horribly ragged and bloated (think medicine ball) that picking up a game ball was like shedding ankle weights or popping the donut off the Louisville Slugger.
With a football, at the skill level of these quarterbacks?... sorry, but 2lbs is huge.
Based on my understanding of the pv=nrt thing, dropping the temperature from 80F to 40F would drop the pressure about 8%, assuming the volume was unchanged.
The Colt who intercepted Brady in the first half tipped off the refs about it because the ball didn’t feel right to him.
Ahem... my price for my idea is a million dollars. I will even supply the bins. : )
I understand about the flexible rubber bladder. But the leather sleeve is not made of iron or carbon fiber, but organic leather that does indeed change its elasticity when soaking wet.
Then blame the refs. They handle the balls on every single play.
one has to wonder whether they were underinflated vs the
Ravens as well.
See 157 please.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.