Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

What is inside a penny?

Back in The Good Old Days, pennies were made of copper. That's not surprising -- many societies have chosen copper for their cheapest coins: it's relatively common, easy to work, and doesn't have the same shiny properties that make people go wild over gold or silver.

But in the past century, copper has become a more valuable substance. 



   Q:  Why has copper grown more valuable? 


   Q:  Copper pennies have a mass of 2.5 grams.
       At the current price of $3.18 per pound,
       how much would it cost to make a penny out of copper?

Although the outer surface of a modern penny is still coated with copper, the bulk of its volume is a different substance. Can you figure out what it is? 



   Q:  What is the material inside a penny?


   Q:  How much does it cost to make a penny out of this material?

Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.