“If you throw a coin from a tall building, it will reach terminal velocity and embed itself in the pavement.”

The idea that a coin dropped from a towering skyscraper could become a deadly projectile, embedding itself in the pavement or fatally striking a pedestrian, is a persistent urban legend. This dramatic scenario, often invoked when discussing famous landmarks like the Empire State Building, has been perpetuated in popular culture, from comic books to television shows. The myth gains traction from a basic understanding of gravity, where objects accelerate as they fall, leading to the assumption that a greater height simply means a more devastating impact.

However, the laws of physics tell a different story. As a small, light object like a penny falls, it encounters air resistance, also known as drag force. This force opposes gravity, and as the penny speeds up, the air resistance increases. Eventually, the upward drag force balances the downward pull of gravity, and the penny stops accelerating, reaching its maximum falling speed called terminal velocity. For a penny, this terminal velocity is surprisingly low, typically around 25 to 50 miles per hour. Its flat shape causes it to flutter like a leaf, further limiting its speed and impact force.

At this speed, a falling penny would not have enough kinetic energy to cause significant injury, let alone embed itself in concrete or be lethal. While a direct hit might sting or leave a welt, the force exerted is far less than what's needed to break skin or fracture a skull. The myth’s enduring appeal likely stems from a combination of factors: an intuitive but incomplete grasp of physics, where the effect of air resistance is often underestimated, and the "grain of truth" that heavier or more aerodynamic objects falling from great heights can indeed be dangerous.