Math
Acceleration Calculator
Solve a = (v - u) / t or F = m * a. Three-way kinematic solver plus Newton's 2nd law, with results in m/s^2, g, N, lbf, kg, and lb.
Acceleration Calculator
Relate change in velocity over time. a = (v - u) / t.
Negative values indicate the opposite direction.
Use the same sign convention as the initial velocity.
Must be greater than zero when solving for acceleration.
Acceleration
10 m/s^2
Acceleration
10 m/s^2
In g-units
1.019716 g
Initial velocity
0 m/s
Final velocity
60 m/s
Time
6 s
Frequently Asked Questions about the Acceleration Calculator
What is the formula for acceleration?
Average acceleration equals the change in velocity divided by elapsed time: a = (v - u) / t, where u is the initial velocity, v is the final velocity, and t is the time in seconds. The result is in meters per second squared (m/s^2). For example, a car that goes from 0 to 27 m/s (roughly 60 mph) in 6 seconds accelerates at 4.5 m/s^2.
How does this calculator use Newton's second law?
Switch to Newtonian mode and the calculator applies F = m * a. You can solve for any one of the three quantities: force (given mass and acceleration), mass (given force and acceleration), or acceleration (given force and mass). Mass must be positive, and the calculator rejects zero acceleration when solving for mass because dividing by zero is undefined.
Why is acceleration shown in g-units?
One g is exactly 9.80665 m/s^2, the standard gravitational acceleration defined by the CGPM. G-units make the result tangible: a hard-braking car hits roughly 1 g, a roller coaster pulls 3-5 g through a loop, and a fighter jet pulling out of a dive can exceed 9 g. The calculator converts any computed acceleration to g automatically.
Can acceleration be negative?
Yes. A negative value means the object is slowing down along its direction of motion (deceleration). A car braking from 20 m/s to rest in 4 seconds has an acceleration of -5 m/s^2. Negative initial or final velocities are also valid and simply indicate motion in the opposite direction.
What units does the calculator accept?
All inputs are in SI units: velocity in meters per second (m/s), time in seconds (s), mass in kilograms (kg), force in newtons (N), and acceleration in m/s^2. Results are shown in those same SI units plus convenient alternates: g-units for acceleration, pound-force (lbf) for force, and pounds (lb) for mass.