Acceleration Calculator
Calculate acceleration from initial velocity, final velocity, and time using the kinematic equation a = (v₂ − v₁) / t. Supports m/s², ft/s², and g-force conversions.
ACCELERATION
6 m/s²
IN ft/s²
19.685 ft/s²
IN g
0.6118 g
FORMULA
a = (v₂ − v₁) / t
Acceleration — Reference Table
| Scenario | Acceleration | g-force |
|---|---|---|
| Walking start | 1.5 m/s² | 0.153 g |
| Car (0-60 mph, 8s) | 3.35 m/s² | 0.3416 g |
| Sports car (0-60, 3s) | 8.94 m/s² | 0.9116 g |
| Free fall | 9.81 m/s² | 1.0003 g |
| Fighter jet turn | 88 m/s² | 8.9735 g |
| Space shuttle launch | 29.4 m/s² | 2.998 g |
💡 How to Calculate Acceleration
What Is Acceleration?
In physics, acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. An object accelerates whenever it speeds up, slows down, or changes direction.
The standard unit of acceleration in the International System of Units (SI) is meters per second squared (m/s²). One m/s² means the object's velocity increases by one meter per second every second. You can also express acceleration in terms of the gravitational constant g, where 1 g = 9.81 m/s².
How to Calculate Acceleration
To calculate acceleration, you need to know the initial velocity, the final velocity, and the time interval. You can then use the kinematic acceleration formula derived from Newton's second law of motion.
Acceleration Formula
The formula to calculate acceleration is:
Where:
- a = acceleration (m/s²)
- v₁ = initial velocity (m/s)
- v₂ = final velocity (m/s)
- t = time elapsed (s)
For example, let's calculate the acceleration of a car that goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds. First, convert 60 mph to meters per second: 60 × 0.44704 = 26.82 m/s.
a = (26.82 − 0) / 8
a = 26.82 / 8
a = 3.35 m/s²
This is equivalent to about 0.34 g. A sports car doing 0–60 mph in 3 seconds has an acceleration of 8.94 m/s² (0.91 g).
Deceleration (Negative Acceleration)
When an object slows down, its acceleration is negative — this is often called deceleration. For example, a car braking from 60 mph to a complete stop in 5 seconds has a negative acceleration:
a = (0 − 26.82) / 5 = −5.36 m/s²
The negative sign indicates the car's velocity is decreasing. You can use our force calculator to find the braking force required to produce this deceleration using Newton's second law, F = ma.
Acceleration Due to Gravity
Near the Earth's surface, all objects in free fall experience the same acceleration due to gravity, regardless of their mass. This acceleration, denoted g, is approximately 9.81 m/s² (32.2 ft/s²).
This means a freely falling object increases its speed by 9.81 m/s every second, ignoring air resistance. After 5 seconds of free fall, an object reaches a velocity of 49 m/s (110 mph) and has fallen a displacement of about 122.6 meters.
You can also find the magnitude of acceleration when it has components in multiple directions.