Impact Force from Falling Object

If an object of mass m=kg is dropped from height h = m, then the velocity just before impact is v = m/s. The kinetic energy just before impact is equal to K.E. = J. But this alone does not permit us to calculate the force of impact! If in addition, we know that the distance traveled after impact is d =m, then the impact force may be calculated using the work-energy principle to be Average impact force = F = N.

Note that the above calculation of impact force is accurate only if the height h includes the stopping distance, since the process of penetration is further decreasing its gravitational potential energy.