Final answer:
To reach the height of the Washington Monument, approximately 113,088 quarters would need to be stacked, and the stack would weigh about 1,413.47 pounds and contain $28,272. To pay off the 2009 US public debt, around 413,223,654 stacks would be necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the first part of the question, we need to calculate the number of quarters that would stack to reach 575 feet. First, convert the thickness from millimeters to feet: 1.55 mm is approximately 0.005085 feet (since 1 foot = 304.8 mm). Then, divide the height of the Washington Monument by the thickness of one quarter: 575 feet / 0.005085 feet/quarter ≈ 113,088 quarters.
To find the total weight, multiply the number of quarters by the mass of one quarter: 113,088 quarters * 5.67 g/quarter = 641,108.96 g, which is equivalent to ≈ 1,413.47 pounds (since 1 pound = 453.59237 grams).
To calculate the monetary value of the stack, multiply the number of quarters by $0.25 (the value of one quarter): 113,088 quarters * $0.25/quarter = $28,272.
To determine the number of stacks needed to pay off the public debt as of August 19, 2009, which was $11,687,233,914,811.11, divide the debt by the value of one stack: $11,687,233,914,811.11 / $28,272 ≈ 413,223,654 stacks.