Could a Potted Venus Flytrap be Deadly?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the potential lethality of a potted Venus flytrap when thrown from a third-floor apartment window. A typical 4-inch terracotta pot filled with peat moss and sand weighs approximately 1.5 to 2 pounds. The impact velocity, calculated at around 20 m/s due to gravitational acceleration, suggests that a direct hit to the temple could indeed result in severe injury or death. The author emphasizes that the character's average strength and the speed of the throw play crucial roles in the outcome.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles, particularly gravity and velocity.
  • Knowledge of the weight and dimensions of a 4-inch terracotta pot.
  • Familiarity with the anatomy of the human skull and potential injury zones.
  • Basic concepts of projectile motion and impact force.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the physics of projectile motion and calculate impact forces.
  • Explore the anatomy of the human skull, focusing on vulnerable areas like the temple.
  • Investigate the weight and density of various potting materials for accurate estimations.
  • Learn about the effects of blunt force trauma and common injuries associated with head impacts.
USEFUL FOR

Writers, particularly those crafting realistic scenarios involving physical actions, as well as individuals interested in the intersection of physics and storytelling.

Lelluriennian
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First off, this is not a homework question. But I am not a scientist, so I understand very little about physics. I am an author and currently writing a short story in which the main character throws (not drops) a potted venus flytrap out of her third-floor apartment window and hits a guy in the head as he is crossing the street toward her building. After looking into venus flytraps, it seems that the general pot size would be about a 4" diameter for a medium-sized plant. I don't know how much a 4'' terracotta pot filled with a peat moss/sand soil mixture would weigh.
I'm wondering if the victim would die or just have a really sore head and maybe need stitches.
Thanks for any help!
 
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It also depends on the speed at which she throws it, but I'd likely say that yes, a potted plant thrown at a strong enough speed could kill.
 
I'm not sure what the actual speed would be, but she pretty well chucks it out of the window. She hates the plant and is glad to be getting rid of it. She isn't aiming for the victim; she just isn't paying attention and the guy's crossing the road at the wrong moment. Also, she's of average strength for a woman in her early thirties. So, no weak granny toss, but also no bodybuilder discus throw.
 
Yeah, it should work.

If the plant hits the side of the guy's head (around the temple), he's even more likely to die.

Thwack!
 
Great! Thanks! XD
 
depends how high she is too

-9.81 m/s for gravity
 
reddeffect said:
depends how high she is too

-9.81 m/s for gravity

-9.81 m/s2
 
I'm not sure exactly how high a 3rd floor apartment window would be. :(
 
30 feet, so about 10 meters.

In other words... you'd have about 20 m/s velocity going down... About the amount you'd see in a fast moving car, but in a much smaller object hitting a much smaller target.
 

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