Randal O'Brian wrote:
"Roy" wrote in message
...
I have heard on numerous occasion that a penny thrown off the top
observation tower of thr Empire State building can hit the ground
with enough force to crack a 6" concrete slab. I used to believe
this statement when I was a kid, but have a hard time buying it as
fact now. I just can't see it being fact, and see it more of an old
wives type tale. I don;t really think you could throw a penny that
hard and far enough to make it reach out sufficiently to clear the
lower floors stepped out structure anyhow.


A month or so ago, the MythBusters on the Discovery Channel tested
the penny legend and determined that the terminal velocity of a penny
tossed off the Empire state Bldg was about 60 MPH, as I recall.
There is not enough kinetic energy in a penny at that speed to do
much damage.

Randy

But I was told by a former high-rise construction worker that a bolt dropped
from an upper floor on a supervisor walking on the ground floor can do some
damage.