Likely, we’ve all heard this question posed:  Would a penny dropped from…kill you? The tutor answers.

 
Recently I was asked if a penny dropped from the Eiffel Tower could kill someone below. It’s a familiar question. Sometimes the penny (hypothetically) drops from the CN Tower or the Empire State Building.

Because of air resistance, a falling penny accelerates only a short distance before reaching “terminal velocity” – the maximum velocity it can be pulled through air by gravity. The folks at Scientific American put that distance at around 50 feet (15m). Therefore, after falling 60 feet or 6000, the penny will travel the same downward speed: about 25 miles per hour, or 40km/h.

To gain some perspective, let’s compare the falling penny to a soccer shot.

Apparently, pro shots are typically 40 to 60 miles per hour, but can reach beyond 90 mph. Therofore, I suspect that a fit amateur can deliver a 30 mile per hour kick (50km/h).

Some might argue that the falling penny could still be dangerous due to its harder material and smaller contact point. Scientific American says not really; the penny is round, after all, rather than tapered.

Perhaps a more meaningful question: Which would you rather be – a soccer goalie, or a person walking beneath a falling penny?

HTH:)

Other sources:

forums.bigsoccer.com

www.soccerballworld.com

Royal Canadian Mint

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.