A penny and a quarter are embedded in the concrete bottom of a swimming pool filled with water. Two students are having a discussion about which coin experiences a greater force from the water pressure acting on it.
Student A: The penny experiences a greater force on it due to the pressure of the water above it because it has a smaller area.
Student B: No, the pressure experienced by the penny and the quarter are not the same. Therefore, we cannot determine which one has the greater force due to water on it.
Do you agree with either student? If so, explain who do you agree with and why. If not, explain why not. Be sure to address all parts of all statements made by both students.
No, I don't agree with either students.
Student A: he says that force is greater on penny because it has smaller area. Force is the product of pressure and area, therefore force will be smaller for smaller area.
Student B: he says that pressure experienced by penny and quarter are not same. They both are embedded at the bottom of the pool where height of the water above them will be same. Pressure due to water is proportional to its height, since height is same for both, therefore pressure also will be same.
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