25 Common Beliefs That Are Totally Wrong

Someone could be killed by a penny dropped from a tall building.

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Penny Drop Myth The urban legend that a penny dropped from a skyscraper could kill someone is pure drama. The story claims it would gain deadly speed, becoming a fatal weapon. But physics begs to differ. As a penny falls, air resistance slows it down, capping its speed at a harmless level. Its light, flat shape limits its terminal velocity—the fastest it can go. At worst, it might cause a tiny sting or bruise, nothing lethal.

Shows like MythBusters have tested this and debunked the killer penny idea every time. While the thought of a falling coin is unnerving, it’s no real danger to anyone on the ground.