Former Steelers player, CMU physics professor weigh in on Deflategate

While the balls were presumably inflated indoors to NFL standards two hours before kickoff, Franklin said temperatures in the low 40s could adversely affect air pressure in the balls.

"Absolutely," he said. "It's pretty basic physics that when something that's inflated cools off, the pressure goes down."

Franklin's theory is that tampering was unlikely, but rather the cool air was a factor.

"It actually comes out to be a pound and a half, if you add up the numbers correctly," he said. "If one measured a pound and a half or two pounds from that, I would say there's no evidence that it's no more than basic physics."

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http://www.wtae.com/news/people-are-talking-about-deflategate-in-pittsburgh/30867638

It seems that there's a lot of evidence that the pressure should decrease. The questions I have are:

• how do the refs deal with this phenomenon and are they aware of it?
• why were the Colts' balls ok?
• how was the process different from the Colts' process that resulted in different air pressures?

BB seemed genuine in the presser. He defended himself without acting like a victim.

I hope in the offseason, BB and Kraft get more chippy with Goodell--where it's publicly visible.

Omfg he estimated 1.5 Just like me!

No the nfl is completely scientifically illiterate on this point. Otherwise they would say 12.5 to 13.5 AT FIELD CONDITION GAME TIME TEMPERATURE.

The Colts balls must have been colder when pressure tested initially. By definition that is the answer. The ideal gas law takes no prisoners. Pv=nrt.

FourierSeries said:

http://www.wtae.com/news/people-are-talking-about-deflategate-in-pittsburgh/30867638

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That sig though... You're killing it man haha I love it

patriot lifer said:

It seems that there's a lot of evidence that the pressure should decrease. The questions I have are:

• how do the refs deal with this phenomenon and are they aware of it?
• why were the Colts' balls ok?
• how was the process different from the Colts' process that resulted in different air pressures?

BB seemed genuine in the presser. He defended himself without acting like a victim.

I hope in the offseason, BB and Kraft get more chippy with Goodell--where it's publicly visible.

Click to expand...

I will say this for the last time, comparing the Colts Balls doesn`t add anything to the conversation. If the Pats want them at 12.5 and the Colts wan`t them at 13.5 there is your difference,but no one has ever said how the Colts like their Balls, or where they were and how they were presented to the Officials, so why even bring it up?

patriot lifer said:

It seems that there's a lot of evidence that the pressure should decrease. The questions I have are:

• how do the refs deal with this phenomenon and are they aware of it?
• why were the Colts' balls ok?
• how was the process different from the Colts' process that resulted in different air pressures?

BB seemed genuine in the presser. He defended himself without acting like a victim.

I hope in the offseason, BB and Kraft get more chippy with Goodell--where it's publicly visible.

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Pretty sure refs are not aware of it. 90% of america probably do not know that temperature affects pressure.
Colts balls could be ok because they like them higher than 12.5, maybe they like them at 13.5 the high end of the limit.

kennyb said:

Omfg he estimated 1.5 Just like me!

No the nfl is completely scientifically illiterate on this point. Otherwise they would say 12.5 to 13.5 AT FIELD CONDITION GAME TIME TEMPERATURE.

The Colts balls must have been colder when pressure tested initially. By definition that is the answer. The ideal gas law takes no prisoners. Pv=nrt.

Click to expand...

It would not shock me to learn that the Colts' balls were overinflated to start the game. Think about it. Anyone with high school science knowledge knows that when temperature drops so does air pressure. Think about watching the weather on tv. A low pressure front means colder weather and a high pressure front means warmer weather. They knew it was going to be cool to cold the night of the game. They knew the refs don't use a pressure gauge to check the balls. They just grab a few of them and ok the whole lot. So they inflate their balls to 14 or 14.5psi knowing the refs will not check that closely. Later, when the balls have been out in the elements and the pressure has dropped they knew that their balls would be ok since they were illegal originally. Their 14.5psi ball would now be 13.5 or 13psi. The Patriot's balls, which were legal to start with would now, one would assume, be illegal. So they complain then sit back and bask in the ****storm they created.