How Do Inflatable Paddle Boards Work With Boyle's Law?

If you’ve ever found yourself curious about some of the exact physics that go into an inflatable paddle board, you’re in the right place. One of the most important scientific principles to understand in relation to SUP is Boyle’s Law. So, how do inflatable paddle boards work with Boyle's Law? Read on to find out.

What is Boyle’s Law?

Boyle’s Law explains that the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional at the same temperature. Put simply, as you put more gas into a container, the pressure will rise. If you took some gas away, the pressure would lower. But what does this mean for an inflatable paddle board? When you pump air into your paddle board, you are following the same idea - adding gas into a container (in this case, the board) to create pressure. This pressure, in turn, provides the board with rigidity, which is key to its functionality.

Why Your Inflatable Paddle Board Needs High Pressure

Using Boyle’s Law, we can see that with an increase in pressure comes rigidity, and the higher the pressure goes, the stiffer your board will be. This is the core idea behind how an inflatable SUP works. A soft board would be next to useless, providing very little in the way of support and stability. Most paddle boards should be pumped to around 15-22 PSI (pounds per square inch), but you can read our guide on ‘what PSI should my paddleboard be?’ to find out more.

Where Does Temperature Come In?

If you’ve ever left your own inflatable paddle board out in the sun for a while and it feels firmer than it was when you pumped it up, then you might be wondering exactly why this is the case. One of the limitations of Boyle’s Law is that it assumes a completely unchanging temperature. In reality, though, temperature has a significant effect on air pressure.

As air warms up, it expands, which leads to a direct increase in pressure. This is one of the reasons you have to take great care not to overinflate your board, as this can put your pressure up to unsafe levels and risk severe damage to the paddle board.

The Importance Of Drop-Stitch Technology

The astute among you may be wondering what gives an inflatable paddle board its shape. The way that gas spreads itself evenly within a container means that, in theory, the SUP should take on a round, balloon-like shape. This isn’t the case, though, and that’s thanks to drop-stitch material. Thousands of tiny threads connect the top and bottom layers of your inflatable paddle board, preserving its intended shape even when fully pumped.

Interesting stuff, right? If you have any further questions about exactly how our market-leading range of inflatable paddle boards work, please feel free to get in contact with us!