Myth #46: It’s Just a Penny

Put those spine-tingling urban legends to rest because the idea that a penny dropped from the Empire State Building could turn lethal is pure Hollywood hokum! Thanks to the laws of physics, this hair-raising scenario is nothing more than a tall tale.

A penny, with its relatively lightweight and flat shape, reaches a terminal velocity of approximately 50 miles per hour during freefall. While that might sound speedy, it’s far from deadly. In reality, a falling penny would be more of an irritating tap than a life-threatening event.