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Would a Penny Dropped from the Empire State Building Kill You?

Season 53 | 5m 52s

For centuries, scientists argued about how objects fall. The answer eventually led to our modern understanding of gravity, acceleration, and drag.

National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust and PBS viewers.
Extras
Physics says the universe is centerless, but a cosmic alignment has scientists asking questions.
Falling cats seem to break the rules of motion, but the real explanation is stranger than it looks.
Here’s why centrifugal force is considered a “fictitious” force.
The story of the dolphin reveals how intelligence evolved, step by step, over billions of years.
MIT nuclear scientist Dennis Whyte on fusion energy and its potential today and tomorrow.
Inside the escalating military struggle to control space and the satellites we rely on.
Step into the stunning cave that’s reshaping our understanding of prehistoric art.
Cognitive scientist Federico Rossano on talking dogs, primates, and decoding animal communication.
Witness how Native North Americans have generated scientific knowledge over thousands of years.
Inside the race to bring life-saving genetic therapies to every person living with cystic fibrosis.