thanks for the speedy response
the free body diagram for the top box would just be gravity pulling down and a normal force from the other box pushing up, correct?
EDIT: based on that logic, I got F(normal)= m(g+a) or 2(-9.8+2.5)= 14.6N
Σ F= -F(gravity from earth) + F(normal from earth) -F(normal from top box) +F(normal from bottom box) = (2+5) * 2.5
The forces from gravity and it's normal force cancel out, leaving us with the normal forces from the boxes.
F(net of normal from boxes) = (2+5) * 2.5
= 17.5N