Final answer:
Pennies from different time periods have the same volume but different masses due to changes in their composition, which leads to different densities while maintaining the same physical size.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether pennies from different time periods have the same volume and mass, one must consider how the properties of pennies have changed over time. U.S. pennies made prior to 1982 are composed primarily of copper, which gives them a different density compared to pennies made after 1982, which are primarily made of zinc and only coated with copper. This change in composition results in pennies with the same dimensions, hence the same volume, but different mass due to the different densities of copper and zinc.
The correct answer to whether pennies from two different time periods have the same volume and mass is (c) No, the pennies have the same volume but different masses. This is based on the understanding that the formula for density is mass divided by volume. Since pennies have undergone a change in composition, their densities have changed, leading to a difference in mass while the physical size of the penny, and thus its volume, remains constant.
If we look at examples using other materials to illustrate this concept, we can see that two objects of the same volume can have different masses. For instance, as stated previously, a penny and an inflated balloon may have the same mass but different volumes due to the different densities of the materials they are made from.