Under Pressure
Physics and Astronomy
Raegan Lacaillade
Penny Whittier
- Grade:
- 6
- Teacher:
- Cindy Adkins
This project explores how air pressure changes in a volleyball affects performance. We chose this project because sometimes at volleyball practice the balls we use to play with can range from over inflated, which hurts your arms, or under inflated, which don't bounce like it should. We discovered that a ball with midrange airpressure 4.0 PSI is the best. This project is important because in an important game you want to make sure the balls being used are at the same ideal PSI.
You chose a very practical and relatable question that many athletes experience but rarely test scientifically. Measuring bounce height and serve distance across different PSI levels showed careful effort, and completing ten drop trials per pressure level strengthened your results. Your conclusion that 4.0 PSI balanced comfort and performance was logical and clearly explained.
What stood out most was your effort to connect science to real life and make the experiment useful for players. You were not just collecting numbers — you were trying to solve a real problem. That kind of thinking shows curiosity and purpose, and it is a strong foundation for future investigations.