Footballs used by the NFL are inflated to 12.5 psi. 11 of 12 footballs measured 10.5 psi after the playoff game when the temperature was 5°C. At what temperature were the balls inflated to explain this pressure drop?

331 K

Explanation:

To calculate the temperature of the system, we use the equation given by Gay-Lussac Law. This law states that pressure of the gas is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas at constant pressure.

Mathematically,

where,

are the initial pressure and temperature of the gas.

are the final pressure and temperature of the gas.

We are given:

Putting values in above equation, we get:

Hence, the temperature at which the balls inflated to explain this pressure drop is 331 K