“Dropping a penny from the Empire State Building can kill a person”

The idea that a penny dropped from the towering heights of the Empire State Building could become a deadly projectile is a pervasive urban legend. This misconception likely stems from a combination of factors, including the dramatic visual of a small object falling from an immense height and perhaps its portrayal in pop culture, such as a memorable scene in The Simpsons (Review). People often intuitively believe that gravity would continuously accelerate the penny to an incredibly dangerous speed, ignoring the crucial role of air resistance. It also plays on a general understanding that falling objects can indeed be hazardous, especially heavier items.

However, scientific evidence firmly busts this myth. When a penny is dropped from a great height, it quickly reaches what is known as terminal velocity. This occurs when the force of air resistance pushing against the falling object becomes equal to the force of gravity pulling it down. Because a penny is light and has a relatively flat shape, it experiences significant air resistance, causing it to flutter and tumble as it falls. This limits its maximum speed to approximately 30-50 miles per hour.

At this speed, a falling penny would certainly sting if it hit someone, but it would not be capable of causing serious injury, let alone death. Experiments, including those conducted by the show MythBusters (Review), have demonstrated that a penny at terminal velocity cannot penetrate ballistic gel, which simulates human flesh, nor can it fracture a skull. The myth persists because it taps into a natural human fear of falling objects and the impressive scale of skyscrapers, leading many to overestimate the potential impact of a small, light object like a penny.