Would a Penny Dropped from the Empire State Building Kill You? | What the Physics?!
Falling is more complicated than you might think.
For centuries, scientists argued about how objects fall. The answer eventually led to our modern understanding of gravity, acceleration, and drag.
Hosted by Athena Brensberger @astroathens 💫
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@justanopinion_really
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
The difference of a copper penny falling from ye top of the Empire State Building vs the mass of a copper penny in the shape of a projectile shot from a weapon.
@Balleatomique
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Nope
(those who know will know)
@evolancer211
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
How about you give it a try then?
Put your money where you mouth is
@Red_Ph03nix
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
1 cent wouldn't but someone named penny…
@Waytovictory-g8p
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Thanks, it was really interesting
@devils_advocate_88
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Man, I bet somebody could make a show about this sort of thing and actually put these crazy ideas to the test. They should call it busted myths, because they'll be myth busting and stuff….
/sarcasm
@larryscott3982
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
I was hoping for more detail on the aerodynamics of a falling penny. The tumbling, oscillation of its drag. I suspect it’s been studied in high detail.
@jasonhessels
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
I love learning that gravitational acceleration is 9.8 meters per second squared which means a penny will be moving at 200 mph….
Stick to consistent units….
@Mbartel500
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
If it was a modern zinc penny, it would feel like a bird crapped on your head.
@bertblue9683
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
What about milk jugs?
@A204ARC
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
what about a space station from low earth orbit?
@RickAucoin
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Anyone else see the thumbnail and think this was another Fallout 3 Tenpenny Tower video essay? Just me?
@angeleav
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
I started falling one time while running and somehow i reestablished myself
@DiesOnAToilet
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
What determines how much of the journey will be spent with the less aerodynamic flat face of the penny pointing down and how much of the fall will be happen with the more aerodynamic narrow edge pointing down? Does it so consistently rotate between the different positions that the average speed can be reliably calculated?
@kuukeli
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
great one
@TheBigMeanie
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
I remember when Myth Busters did this one. I learned so much from that show. This is pretty interesting. Thanks for making this for us to learn.
@UnfinishedprojectsTexas
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
It may not kill you but I bet it would hurt like a mofo.
@Leo88v
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Cats know this as they will stretch out to increase drag while falling from great height
@reubenj.cogburn7734
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
You know that thing they say about dropping a penny off the top of the Empire State Building, it's because almost a hundred freaking years ago that was as big as they made them.
Seeing as this was a debunked almost 100 years ago… they and their their children are long gone.
Because like, who Compares anything to the Empire State Building these days.
@SomeRandomGuy_id
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
I promise I wont drop a penny, but a 55 grams lead ball.
@mamasitamba
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Erm, was totally expecting: mass , gravity , friction , terminal velocity , AND energy
Did I miss it?
@dleemoon
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
The "Law of Falling Bodies" only holds true within a certain limit. The limit being when the falling bodies mass are very very small compared to the Earth's mass (or compared to any other large mass such as the Moon's). BUT, if one were to drop, say the Moon itself and a bowling ball from distance of one mile from the surface of the Earth, the Moon would "land" first. Gravity displays itself when two masses are attracted to each based on the mass of each. Therefore two very large masses (such as the Earth and the Moon) will both "fall" toward each other and their combined speeds of fall compute to a higher speed of closing distances than the scenario of a single blowing ball "falling" to the Earth. The blowing ball has so little mass, compared to the Earth, that the Earth's rate of fall toward the ball is unmeasurable and therefore seems non-existent.
@jeffdavis7529
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Terminal velocity free falling skydiving is 120 miles an hour
Yes I was a skydiver 🪂
@broady80
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
It would probably give you a really bad headache
@ChaseButters
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Check out Mythbusters episode on this, much more fun of a watch.
@JamnGeorge
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Well said🎉 Weight vs terminal velocity and motion manipulation of air mass. Think of a sniper, they have two or three cross winds they need to adjust too. At least until impact😂
@OutInTheBuyah
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
I thought we'd already debunked this years ago, long before this chick was born. This presentation is made for the youngins. 🫡
@JamnGeorge
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Not true
Comments are closed.