Answer: 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.
