MythBusters · Video summary

Physics of Falling | MythBusters

MythBusters explores the physics of falling objects and microwave oven myths, revealing that a penny's terminal velocity is insufficient for harm and metal in microwaves doesn't cause explosions.

MythBusters · February 14, 2026 · 100-min episode · 7-min read

Key takeaways

🎯A falling penny's terminal velocity is around 65 mph, which is insufficient to cause serious injury or penetrate materials like concrete, asphalt, or even ballistic gel.04:33
🚀Understand that a penny's terminal velocity is limited and it cannot cause lethal damage, dispelling the common myth.04:33
💡Tanning beds emit light waves, not microwaves, debunking the myth that overexposure can cook internal organs.22:22
🚀Placing metal objects in a microwave can cause arcing and potentially reduce the lifespan of the magnetron if the metal contacts the sides, but it will not cause an explosion.27:11
🔧Exercise caution when microwaving metal objects to avoid damaging the appliance, but do not fear explosions.27:11
⚡Superheated water in a microwave can indeed explode violently when disturbed, posing a scalding hazard due to rapid steam expansion.29:21

Chapters

0:03🎯 Introduction to MythBusters and Episode Overview
1:18🎯 The Penny Drop Myth at Empire State Building
2:10🎯 Wind Conditions and Penny Drop Feasibility
2:46🎯 Testing Penny's Terminal Velocity and Impact
5:38🎯 Impact Tests on Hard Targets
18:17🎯 Microwave Myths Testing
28:09🎯 Microwave Radiation and Food Preparation Tests
32:10🎯 Myth of Receiving Radio Signals Through Dental Fillings
40:54🎯 Electromagnetic Reaction in Metal Fillings
58:04🎯 The Fall from 22,000 Feet Survived Due to Explosion Myth
1:06:31🎯 Full Scale Explosion and Impact Testing
1:25:04🎯 Testing the Myth of Lighting Belts and Flipping Switches
1:30:22🎯 Experiments on the Cost of Turning Lights On and Off
1:39:22🎯 Final Reflection and Episode Conclusion

The digest

High-Level Overview

This episode rigorously tests three enduring myths: whether a penny dropped from a tall building can kill a pedestrian, if microwaves cause metal objects to explode or tan skin internally, and the story of a WWII airman who survived a 22,000-foot fall into an exploding train station. Using scientific experimentation and real-world simulations, the team debunks common misconceptions about terminal velocity and impacts, microwave radiation effects, and explosive shockwave physics. The episode is essential viewing for those interested in physics, urban legends, and practical myth-testing methodology.

Keep reading in The Digest

The full 7-minute article, 12 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.

Structured Deep Dive
1. The Penny Drop Myth: Can a Falling Penny Kill? (00:20–17:41)
2. Microwave Urban Legends: Cooking the Insides and Metal Explosions (17:42–31:59)
3. Lucille Ball’s Teeth & Radio Reception Myth (32:10–48:57)
4. The WWII Airman and the Exploding Train Station Myth (49:00–1:38:54)
5. Household Myth: Energy Savings from Leaving Lights On vs. Turning Them Off (1:07:27–1:32:13)
Key Frameworks and Mental Models
Terminal Velocity and Impact Testing (Penny Myth)
RF Signals and Galvanic Reaction (Radio Teeth Myth)
Power Consumption and Energy Savings (Light Bulb Myth)
Practical Implications & Takeaways
Action-Oriented Summary

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