Average force on a 60 kg gymnast landing at 6 m/s on a 0.15 m mat

Answer: average impact force = 7,200 N (in kilonewtons 7.2 kN, as multiples of the object's weight 12.2 × weight).

What we know

  • Mass: 60 kg
  • Impact speed: 6 m/s
  • Stopping distance: 0.15 m

Step by step

Given
m = 60 kg, v = 6 m/s, d = 0.15 m
Formula
F = m·v² / (2·d)
Substitute
F = 60 × 6² / (2 × 0.15)
Result
F = 7,200 N

All results

Average impact force7,200 N
In kilonewtons7.2 kN
As multiples of the object's weight12.2 × weight

Open the impact force calculator with these numbers → and change any of them.

The physics

When a moving object is brought to rest, its kinetic energy (½mv²) is absorbed over the stopping distance. Work equals force times distance, so the average force is the energy divided by that distance: F = ½mv² / d. The shorter the stop, the larger the force — which is the whole reason crumple zones, crash mats and packaging exist.

Standard acceleration of gravity →