Ronnie LaCombe| Columbia Daily Tribune
The following question, "How much air can fit in a basketball?" comes from Dawson P. in Mr. Brandt's class.
March Madness just ended! Many of you probably enjoyed watching the numerous high-stakes basketball games over the last few days. It’s amazing to watch the players dribble the ball up and down the court and shoot the ball seemingly effortlessly to the basket. The ball withstands a lot and depends on being inflated properly to last through the games. How much air fits in a basketball?
The volume of a basketball can be calculated using its circumference. Official NBA basketballs are 29.5 inches in circumference, which means they have a volume of 434 cubic inches. The amount of air inside the basketball can change without the volume changing, however. You probably have experienced this when you’ve played with a flat basketball.
To figure out the amount of air in a basketball, you have to measure the air pressure. NBA rules dictate that basketballs should be inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch. If the basketball is inflated below this level, it won’t bounce correctly. If it is inflated above this level, the basketball could be damaged or burst.
Fun fact: A properly inflated basketball dropped from shoulder height should bounce up to your hip!
Ronnie LaCombe is a graduate student at the University of Missouri studying biology.
