The Coin on Assay Court
The idea: testing a claim with a test chosen in advance.
Read it
Who is in this book
-
Inkling a child of the Green Names what she notices -
Claim Say exactly what is being claimed before you test it from TruthQuest -
Prove Decide what result would change your mind before you look from TruthQuest -
Beto a child of the Green Takes things apart -
Yardstick Compare with something known before you call a number big or small from TruthQuest -
Danya a child of the Green Asks "how do we know?"
Every recurring character has a short tune, so you can tell who is on stage before a word is said. The tunes play only when you tap, and the Reading Access sound switch turns them off.
The Honest Page
Which parts of this story are true, stretched or made up?
True
- Pure silver has a density of about 10.5 grams per cubic centimetre, and copper about 9. Source
- 31.5 grams in 3 cubic centimetres is 10.5 grams per cubic centimetre; 27 grams in 3 is 9.
- Measuring the water a thing pushes aside is a real way to find its volume, an idea often credited to Archimedes. Source
Stretched
- Real coin testers use precise scales and other tests too. What we simplified: One clear test is enough for the story; a real assay would use more than one.
Made up
- Assay Court, its museum and the collector are made up.
Tell it back
Tell the story in your own words: who was there, what went wrong, and what they found out. Then an iron key from Assay Court, fourth on the ring goes on your belt.
On your belt: an iron key from Assay Court, fourth on the ring.
Your belt lives on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Ring the hammer for someone
Pick this book for someone younger. The link carries only the book, and it will wait for them on the Green.