What is the Direction of Force in a Falling Object's Free-Body Diagram?

[Ascendant78]

Homework Statement

A 40kg person is falling at the speed of gravity, 9.8m/s^2. Wind resistance is not considered. On your free-body diagram, the direction they are falling (ground) is in the negative direction, hence gravity is causing an acceleration in the negative.

Homework Equations

F(gravity) = (40)(-9.8)
F(gravity) = -392N

The Attempt at a Solution

I am simply curious when solving a problem such as this, would N be a -392N since it is traveling in the negative on the free-body diagram, or is it seen a magnitude and considered a positive number?

 

[bp_psy]

I am simply curious when solving a problem such as this, would N be a -392N since it is traveling in the negative on the free-body diagram, or is it seen a magnitude and considered a positive number?

Force is a vector therefore it has a direction. Also the direction of the movement of the object and the direction of the force do not have to me the same. For example a ball going up after you throw it moves up but the force acting on it is downward.

 

[Ascendant78]

Thank you.