How pennies change though the years?

Question

how would you make a hypothesis about pennies? what do you observed in 15 different pennies? I am trying to use the scientific method with pennies but i am i little confused

Answer 1

To fully employ the scientific method, FIRST make a hypothesis based on your observations and knowledge, THEN test it.

How do you think, based on what you know, and what you have seen, that pennies have changed over the years? Do pennies seem different now than before? Do old pennies seem different than new.
If so, how would you guess, based on the stuff you know, that the change was caused?

To give you an example, if I observed dead mouse parts around my house, I might hypothesize that my cat, Socrates, was killing mice, because I know she's a hunter, and she has killed mice before.

I might test this hypothesis by setting up videocameras and hoping to catch her in the act.

(Yes, my cat Socrates is a girl. It is a long story.)

Answer 2

Pennies used to be made of copper. Now they are made of mostly lead and only copper plated. You can measure this if you have a scale. This change happened in the early 80s to cut costs.

Is that what you mean or do you mean more like about how they lose their luster over time?

Answer 3

As pennies get older, they change color from bright copper to icky green.

Hypothesis: Pennies become green due to oxidation.

Older pennies weigh less than newer pennies.

Hypothesis: Newer pennies have less mass due to increased zinc content.