Dropping a Penny from a Skyscraper Can Kill Someone

Dropping a penny from a skyscraper cannot kill someone, as its flat shape and low mass yield a terminal velocity of only about 50 mph—well below the 100+ mph threshold needed for a fatal impact. This speed, comparable to a slow-moving car, produces momentum at impact less than 0.3% of that from a baseball thrown at 90 mph, making it less dangerous than a common sports pitch. Real-world tests by physics enthusiasts confirm the negligible risk, demonstrating how gravity and air resistance balance to prevent harm. Despite its persistence, the myth crumbles against simple physics: a penny's terminal velocity is too low to penetrate skin or cause serious injury, a fact verified by controlled experiments and decades of scientific analysis.