Question

The first test the governor proposes is to insure all quarters arethe same size. He borrows two quarters
from Professor Larson, and puts them edge to edge as shown below,rolling the outer quarter around
the middle quarter without slipping. “If the quarters are the samesize,” the governor explains at a
press conference, “then their edges will roll along each other andGeorge will be right side up when I go
once around.” But right before his very eyes, when the quarter ishalfway around its journey, George
is rightside up again!
What!” he exclaims. “The quarters are defective! By the time I’vegone all the way around, the rolling
quarter will have made two rotations! Since the edges are touching,that must mean one quarter is
larger than the other! Either the quarters are defective, or Larsonis counterfeiting coins – lock him
up just to be safe!”
explain how the quarters are not defective, and how the outerquarter is
making two rotations even though the edges of the two coins aretouching. Do not use equations —
this is a conceptual exercise.