Gather the necessary variables. For calculations, you must know the mass of the object, the height or distance the object travels and the distance traveled after impact. Make sure all the variables are converted to metric measurements, meaning kilograms and meters.
Calculate the potential energy of the object by multiplying the mass by the height by the force of gravity (9.8 meters per second squared). Potential energy is exactly that: the amount of energy an object has before being put in motion. Given the law of conservation of energy, the potential energy of the object will equal the kinetic energy of the object on impact.
Calculate impact velocity by taking the square root of 2 times the height times the force of gravity.
Calculate kinetic energy by multiplying the mass by the impact velocity squared. Divide this total by 2.
Divide the kinetic energy total by the distance traveled after impact. This number represents the total force of impact, thus the "shock load" of a falling object.