MythBusters Penny Drop MiniMyth YouTube

Summary

In this MythBusters episode, Adam and Jamie investigate the myth that a penny dropped from a great height, like the Empire State Building, could kill someone or embed itself in concrete. They determine a penny's terminal velocity to be around 65 mph, which is not enough to penetrate concrete or asphalt. Even at nearly three times the speed of sound, the penny fails to cause severe injury, debunking the myth that it could be lethal or embed in a person's skull.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ The myth is about the potential danger of throwing a penny off the Empire State Building.
• 🔍 Adam and Jamie investigate the maximum speed of a penny in free fall, known as terminal velocity.
• 🎯 They use a modified staple gun to simulate the penny's terminal velocity and test its impact on various materials.
• 🏗️ The penny, fired at 65 mph, does not penetrate concrete or asphalt, disproving the myth of it embedding into concrete.
• 🧠 A ballistics dummy named Norma is used to test the impact on human-like flesh and bone.
• 🤕 The penny, even at terminal velocity, does not shatter the skull of the dummy, indicating it's not lethal.
• 🤲 Adam and Jamie test the impact of the penny on human skin, and it does not cause significant harm.
• 🚫 Even when the penny is shot at nearly three times the speed of sound, it does not embed into the block or break bones.
• 👀 The only potential harm mentioned is if someone were to be hit directly in the eye while looking up.
• 💥 The myth that a penny falling from a great height could be dangerous is conclusively busted.

Q & A

What is the myth associated with throwing a penny from the Empire State Building?

The myth is that if you throw a penny off the Empire State Building at its height, it will either embed itself in the concrete at the base of the building or hit someone in the head and kill them.

What is the term for the maximum speed a penny can achieve when falling?

The term for the maximum speed a penny can achieve when falling is 'terminal velocity'.

What did Adam and Jamie use to determine the terminal velocity of a penny?

Adam and Jamie used a modified staple gun to shoot a penny at concrete, asphalt, and a head made from ballistics gel to determine the terminal velocity.

What was the terminal velocity of the penny as measured by the rig?

The terminal velocity of the penny as measured by the rig was approximately 65 mph.

Did the penny penetrate the concrete or asphalt when shot at terminal velocity?

No, the test showed that a coin traveling at terminal velocity could not penetrate concrete or asphalt.

What did the MythBusters use to simulate a human head for the experiment?

The MythBusters used a ballistics dummy named Norma with a cranium made of ballistics gel to simulate a human head.

What was the outcome when the penny traveling at terminal velocity hit the ballistics dummy's head?

The penny broke through the thin layer of ballistics gel but the skull (head) remained intact, indicating no severe damage.

How fast was the penny traveling when it hit Adam's hand?

The penny was traveling at 64 mph when it hit Adam's hand.

What was the result of the penny hitting Adam's hand at 64 mph?

The penny left an imprint but did not cause any significant harm or pain to Adam's hand.

What was the speed of the penny when it was shot almost three times the speed of sound?

The high-speed camera recorded the penny's speed at almost three times the speed of sound, which is approximately 3,000 ft per second.

Did the penny cause any damage to the concrete block when shot at high speed?

Even when the penny was shot at almost three times the speed of sound, it did not embed itself in the concrete block.

What was the final conclusion of the MythBusters about the penny myth?

The MythBusters concluded that the myth was busted, as neither terminal velocity nor speeds almost three times the speed of sound were enough to cause significant harm or death to a person.