Final answer:
The mathematical formula to determine the force as an object is pulled toward Earth is F = mg, where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s^2). For objects not near the Earth's surface, the more general form of Newton's law of gravitation is used: F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula to determine the force of an object as it is pulled toward Earth due to gravity is given by Newton's universal law of gravitation, which states that the force (F) acting on an object is proportional to the product of the masses (m1 and m2) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between their centers:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r2
Where G is the gravitational constant (6.674×10−12 N(m/kg)2). For objects near the Earth's surface, this simplifies to F = mg, where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2).
For example, if a person has a mass of 60.0 kg, the force of gravitational attraction on them at Earth's surface would be: F = m * g = 60.0 kg * 9.81 m/s2 = 588.6 N