I would ignore the mass of the ladder (lets assume it is a really light aluminum one), and I have the equation F = mv , however, I am having a difficult time with the arc velocity calculation. I can calculate the straight line fall due to gravity, but I am not sure of the other.
This problem came up in discussion - If a 200 pound man was on the top of a 10 foot ladder, and the ladder fell in an arc to the ground, Would the force of impact on the man be less if he "road" the ladder down to the ground on the arc, or if he fell straight down 10 feet separate from the...