Pennies used to be made of copper,but now they are made of copper-coated zinc.If one were to do a precise calorimetry experiment to determine the specific heat of the new pennies,what would the result be?
A)It would be that of copper since copper is on the outside.
B)It would be that of zinc since zinc is in the center.
C)It would be the sum of the copper and zinc specific heats.
D)It would be between that of copper and that of zinc,depending on coating thickness.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The specific heat of the penny will be between that of copper and zinc because the coating thickness can vary. The specific heat of the penny will depend on the proportion of copper and zinc in the coin and the thickness of the coating. Therefore, it would not be the specific heat of just copper or zinc or the sum of the two.

Pennies Used to Be Made of Copper,but Now They Are