A lot of hot air? Scientists weigh in on Deflategate

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Early in January, an NFL investigation found that 11 of the 12 footballs used by the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Games against Indianapolis were under-inflated by two pounds per square inch (PSI.) Under-inflated footballs are said to be easier to grip, especially in the wet conditions of that particular game.

The Patriots' head coach, Bill Belichick, denied any involvement with what the media were quick to label as “Deflategate,” claiming that he had minimal knowledge on game-day footballs. He also claimed that the moist air and the change in temperature caused the balls to deflate slightly. Quarterback Tom Brady maintained that he did not tamper with the balls when he picked out the ones he wanted to use five hours before the game.

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A law firm hired by the NFL has asked for a consultation with physicists from Columbia University. They wanted to determine whether the drop in temperature that occurred when the balls were taken outdoors for the game was a factor. Although the NFL hasn't announced if anyone from the Columbia University physics department has stepped up to provide an explanation, there are numerous other scientists who voiced their professional opinions online.

Materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez, in an interview by Time Magazine, agreed that a change in temperature may lead to a slight deflation of the balls, but not as much as two PSI. She also stated that under-inflated balls pose an advantage in a game: They're easier to grip, catch, carry, and kick.

Thomas Healey, a graduate student of engineering from Carnegie Mellon, performed an experiment at an athletic testing lab in Pittsburgh. He inflated footballs to 12.5 PSI in a 75 degrees Fahrenheit room, then placing the balls in a 50 degrees Fahrenheit setting and moistening them. After two and a half hours, Healey found that the pressure inside the balls decreased by 1.82 to 1.95 PSI. The results give credence to Belichick's initial claim.

Regardless of the findings from the NFL's investigation, many scientists are just happy that the Deflategate debacle created interest in their field: in an attempt to find out whether the Patriots deserve the win, a lot of people are actually discussing physics with friends and family.

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Will McHale played football in college and coached a professional American football in France. Follow this Twitter account for more discussions on pro football and other sports.