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Acceleration Calculator
Acceleration calculator. Enter initial velocity, final velocity, and time to calculate acceleration. Includes the acceleration formula and examples.
Acceleration result
Average acceleration
a = (v − u) ÷ t
How to Calculate Acceleration
If you’re searching for “how to calculate acceleration”, the most common formula is change in velocity divided by time.
Acceleration Formula
Acceleration (a) = (Final velocity − Initial velocity) ÷ Time
Example
If velocity increases from 0 m/s to 20 m/s in 4 seconds, a = (20 − 0) ÷ 4 = 5 m/s².
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula for acceleration?
Acceleration = (Final velocity − Initial velocity) ÷ Time, or a = (v − u) ÷ t. For example, a car that goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds has an acceleration of 10 mph/s (or about 4.47 m/s²).
What are the units of acceleration?
The SI unit of acceleration is metres per second squared (m/s²). Other common units include ft/s², km/h/s, and g-force (1g ≈ 9.81 m/s²). The unit reflects how much velocity changes each second.
What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?
Velocity is the rate of change of position (how fast something moves in a direction). Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity (how quickly speed or direction is changing). A car travelling at constant speed has zero acceleration.
Can acceleration be negative?
Yes. Negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object is slowing down. If a car decelerates from 30 m/s to 0 m/s in 10 seconds, its acceleration is −3 m/s². The negative sign indicates the velocity is decreasing.
What is gravitational acceleration?
Gravitational acceleration (g) is the acceleration of a freely falling object due to gravity. On Earth, g ≈ 9.81 m/s² (about 32.2 ft/s²). This means a dropped object gains roughly 9.81 m/s of downward velocity every second.
How do I calculate acceleration without knowing time?
Use the kinematic equation: v² = u² + 2as, where v is final velocity, u is initial velocity, a is acceleration, and s is distance. Rearranging: a = (v² − u²) ÷ (2s). This is useful when time is unknown but distance is given.