Highlights

• iPhone 14 Pro Max withstands a 16,000-foot drop from an airplane.
• Experiment shows smartphones can handle falls from extreme heights onto grass.
• Terminal velocity and soft landings key to surviving high drops.
• Experts explain the physics behind smartphones surviving massive falls.

We’ve all been there – that heart-stopping moment when your smartphone goes flying out of your hand, and you brace for the worst. But get this – an iPhone recently survived an insane 16,000-foot fall from the ripped-open fuselage of an Alaska Airlines flight!

After this crazy incident back in January, the folks over at The Wall Street Journal just had to investigate how the heck an iPhone 14 Pro Max could possibly withstand such a terrifying plummet.

These things can barely handle a drop from knee height onto the kitchen tiles without shattering into a million pieces!

The Great Phone Drop Experiment

So what did they do?

They got their hands on the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models and started yeeting them from obscene heights – we’re talking 300 feet up!

They weren’t even using cases or anything. Just naked phones freefalling towards the cold, hard ground.

When these bad boys came crashing down onto some lovely, cushiony grass, they emerged pretty much unscathed!

A few scuffs here and there, but otherwise perfectly functional. It’s like they were just built different or something.

The Physics of Falling Phones

Turns out, there’s some pretty good science behind why these modern smartphones can survive such massive drops.

The big brains at The Wall Street Journal brought in some serious experts to break it down.

Apparently, it all comes down to this thing called “terminal velocity.”

Basically, no matter how high up you drop a phone from, it’ll eventually hit a max speed thanks to air resistance and its tiny size.

And that magic number for smartphones?

A casual 60 mph!

Then there’s the landing itself. If you drop your phone onto something soft and squishy like grass, it slows down way more gently on impact.

But something hard like tile or concrete? Say goodbye to your phone – it’s getting that instant, bone-crunching stop that’ll shatter it into oblivion.

So while cases are still a good idea for us mere mortals prone to pocket fumbles, it’s pretty wild to think our smartphones could theoretically survive falls from freakin’ airplanes!

FAQs

How did an iPhone survive a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane?

The iPhone hit its terminal velocity during the fall, which limited the impact speed to about 60 mph, and it likely landed on a softer surface like grass, which absorbed much of the impact.

What is terminal velocity and how does it relate to dropping smartphones?

Terminal velocity is the maximum speed an object reaches when falling through the air. For smartphones, this is about 60 mph, which is slow enough to prevent catastrophic damage if landing on softer surfaces.

Can all smartphones survive such high falls?

While many modern smartphones are designed to withstand impacts from falls, survival depends on factors like height, speed, and surface of impact. Not all smartphones may survive extreme heights, especially without protective cases.

What should I do to protect my smartphone from high falls?

Using a sturdy case and ensuring that you handle your device carefully, especially in situations where it might be dropped from significant heights, is advisable.

Are there any real-world instances where smartphones survived extreme falls?

Yes, there have been reported instances, such as an iPhone surviving a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane, illustrating the resilience of modern smartphone build and design under extraordinary circumstances.

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