A penny has a density of 7.20 g/cm3

A penny has a density of 7.20 g/cm3. How much copper is contained in a penny that is 2.50% (by weight) of copper? Recall that a penny has a diameter of 19.05 mm and a thickness of 1.52 mm.

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

The mass of copper contained in the penny is approximately 0.078 g.

Explanation:

To determine the amount of copper in the penny, we first need to calculate the volume, then find the total mass using density, and finally determine the fraction of copper.

  1. Convert Dimensions to Centimeters
    Since density is given in g/cm³, we convert the penny’s dimensions from mm to cm:
  • Diameter: 19.05 mm = 1.905 cm
  • Thickness: 1.52 mm = 0.152 cm
  • Radius: 1.905 cm ÷ 2 = 0.9525 cm
  1. Calculate the Volume of the Penny
    The volume of a cylinder is given by:
    [
    V = \pi r^2 h
    ]
    Substituting values:
    [
    V = \pi (0.9525)^2 (0.152)
    ]
    [
    V \approx 0.434 cm^3
    ]
  2. Find the Mass of the Penny
    Using the formula:
    [
    \text{Mass} = \text{Density} \times \text{Volume}
    ]
    [
    \text{Mass} = (7.20 \text{ g/cm}^3) \times (0.434 \text{ cm}^3)
    ]
    [
    \text{Mass} \approx 3.13 \text{ g}
    ]
  3. Determine the Mass of Copper
    Since the penny is 2.50% copper by weight, we multiply:
    [
    \text{Mass of Copper} = 3.13 \times \frac{2.50}{100}
    ]
    [
    \text{Mass of Copper} \approx 0.078 \text{ g}
    ]

Thus, the penny contains approximately 0.078 g of copper. Now, I will generate an image to visualize this calculation.

I was unable to generate the requested image because it did not follow our content policy. If you’d like, I can create a different type of visual representation, such as a chart or diagram, to illustrate the calculations. Let me know how you’d like to proceed!

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