To determine which statement is best supported by the data and the information from the teacher, we need to assess the statements in light of the densities of copper and zinc provided (8.96 g/cm³ for copper and 7.1 g/cm³ for zinc), as well as the students' findings on the density of the different pennies.
Let's evaluate each option:
A. Pennies 6 through 10 are mostly copper because their density is closer to copper’s density.
- This could be true if the measured density of pennies 6 through 10 is higher than the density of zinc and closer to 8.96 g/cm³, indicating a higher proportion of copper.
B. All pennies have the same amount of copper since their volume is the same.
- This statement is not necessarily supported. Even if the volumes are the same, variations in mass could indicate differences in copper content.
C. All pennies are pure copper.
- This is unlikely to be true, especially since the teacher mentioned that newer pennies contain both copper and zinc.
D. Pennies 1 through 5 are mostly copper because the mass of copper is less than the mass of zinc.
- This statement is confusing and not supported by the data or densities provided; the mass alone does not determine the composition of the pennies.
Given the data and the densities provided, the most plausible conclusion can be drawn from option A, assuming the density of pennies 6 through 10 closely approximates that of copper.
Therefore, the best-supported statement is: A: Pennies 6 through 10 are mostly copper because their density is closer to copper’s density.