need help on a problem F=ma and i have gravity

**wash** · Nov11-09, 12:08 AM

F=?
m=295kg
a=75m/s^2

an object is falling with a mass 295kg and has an acceleration of 75m/s^2 what is the force of the collision.

F=295(75 * or + gravity)

~~ernestpworrel~~ · Nov11-09, 12:21 AM

You've got the wrong idea about how to solve the problem.

**MacLaddy** · Nov11-09, 12:32 AM

Hey Ernest, help him/her out, and in doing so help me out. I'm curious how that would be figured.

FYI... Haven't yet gotten beyond algebra..

~~ernestpworrel~~ · Nov11-09, 12:53 AM

I'm sorry, I can't. It's homework. But I will give you a hint. The rate to which gravity accelerates falling objects is not 75 m/s². If the problem has been correctly copied, then that hint should help

**Mark44** · Nov11-09, 01:17 AM

Assuming that the acceleration figure is correct, which implies that the object is falling somewhere with a much higher gravitational attraction, the weight of the object is given by F = ma = 295kg *75 m/s^2 = 22,125 Nt.

The wording suggests that what might really be asked for is the energy of the collision, or E = (1/2)mv^2.

wash, can you post the exact wording of the problem?