• Question: Can you be killed by a coin falling from a tall building?

    Asked by aileenjcat to Colin, John, Kevin, Shikha, Triona on 11 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Colin Johnston

      Colin Johnston answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      No, the speed and therefore kinetic energy of the falling coin would be limited by air resistance to about 20km/h. Being hit by this would be survivable.

      But heavier objects would have a higher terminal velocity and thus be more dangerous. Sadly a man was recently killed in the US by a (heavy) tape measure dropped from 50 floors over him. See http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/04/nyregion/falling-tape-measure-kills-man-at-jersey-city-construction-site.html?ref=nyregion&_r=1 .

    • Photo: Shikha Sharma

      Shikha Sharma answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Hi Alieenjcat,
      No, it will not kill the person but it’s definitely going to hurt a lot and if the coin dropped vertically then it can develop enough speed to penetrate the eye socket of someone who is looking up. But the chances of staying the coin vertical are really less as it will start spinning with slightest disturbance in the air. Then air resistance will also slow down its speed so that it cannot kill the person.
      But it can hurt a lot so please don’t try this .

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