If someone dropped a penny off the Empire State Building and it hit you on the head, would it actually kill you?

The episode runs the real physics on one of the most repeated urban legends in American culture, covering terminal velocity, air resistance, drag force, and the actual mass and aerodynamics of a one-cent coin in freefall. It also gets into why the human brain is so drawn to this kind of worst-case math, and what the numbers actually say when you stop guessing and start calculating.

The answer is less dramatic than the legend, but the reason why is genuinely more interesting.

────────────────

Enjoying the show? Follow Fool's FAQ and drop a 5-star rating & review - it's hands-down the best way to help other curious people find us.

Want to support the show? Toss a few bucks in the tip jar → Buy me a coffee ☕️

Come hangout with other Fools in our Discord

Sponsorships, collaborations, or general inquiries → [email protected]

- Music by The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder.

Stay curious.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.