A penny and a quarter are embedded in the concrete bottom of a swimming pool filled with water. Which of these coins experiences the greater downward force due to water pressure acting on it? Explain.

The quarter, because it has a larger surface area.

Explanation:

remember the equation:

Pressure = Force/Area

Now, if we isolate Force, we get:

Force = Pressure*Area.

The pressure will be the same for both coins, but the area is not.

Then the one with a larger surface area will suffer a greater downward force. (We can consider the area as the area of the top or bottom of the coin)

The area of a circle of diameter d, is:

A = pi*(d/2)^2

where pi = 3.14

The penny has a diameter of 19.05 mm, then its area is:

A = 3.14*(19.05mm/2)^2 = 284.87mm^2

The quarter has a diameter of 24.26mm, then the area is:

A = 3.14*(24.26mm/2)^2 = 462 mm^2

Then the quarter has a larger area, this means that the quarter will experience the greater downward force due to water pressure.

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