⚡ Acceleration Calculator
Calculate acceleration
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Initial Velocity
Type the starting velocity (v₀) in m/s. For example, if an object starts at rest, enter 0. This is the velocity at time t = 0.
Enter Final Velocity
Type the ending velocity (v) in m/s. For example, if an object reaches 30 m/s, enter 30. This is the velocity after time t.
Enter Time
Type the time elapsed (t) in seconds. For example, if 5 seconds pass, enter 5. Time cannot be zero.
Click Calculate
Press the "Calculate Acceleration" button to find the acceleration (a) in m/s² and distance traveled.
View Results
See the acceleration in m/s² and the distance traveled in meters. Positive acceleration means speeding up; negative means slowing down.
Formula
Acceleration: a = (v - v₀) / t
Distance: d = v₀t + ½at²
where v = final velocity, v₀ = initial velocity, t = time, a = acceleration, d = distance
Example 1: Car accelerates from 0 to 30 m/s in 5 seconds
Given: v₀ = 0 m/s, v = 30 m/s, t = 5 s
a = (30 - 0) / 5 = 30 / 5 = 6 m/s²
d = 0 × 5 + ½(6)(5)² = 0 + 75 = 75 m
Acceleration: 6 m/s² (speeding up)
Example 2: Object slows from 20 m/s to 5 m/s in 3 seconds
Given: v₀ = 20 m/s, v = 5 m/s, t = 3 s
a = (5 - 20) / 3 = -15 / 3 = -5 m/s²
d = 20 × 3 + ½(-5)(3)² = 60 - 22.5 = 37.5 m
Acceleration: -5 m/s² (deceleration, slowing down)
Example 3: Constant velocity (no acceleration)
Given: v₀ = 10 m/s, v = 10 m/s, t = 5 s
a = (10 - 10) / 5 = 0 / 5 = 0 m/s²
d = 10 × 5 + ½(0)(5)² = 50 m
Acceleration: 0 m/s² (constant velocity, no change)
About Acceleration Calculator
The Acceleration Calculator computes acceleration using the formula a = (v - v₀)/t, where v is final velocity, v₀ is initial velocity, and t is time. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity—how fast velocity changes over time. This calculator also computes the distance traveled during the acceleration.
When to Use This Calculator
- Physics Homework: Calculate acceleration from velocity and time
- Vehicle Analysis: Find car acceleration (e.g., 0-60 mph times)
- Motion Problems: Solve kinematic equations in physics
- Engineering: Design systems with specific acceleration requirements
- Sports Science: Analyze athlete performance and acceleration
- Exam Preparation: Practice acceleration calculations
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Shows Distance: Also calculates distance traveled during acceleration
- ✅ Step-by-Step: Displays the formula calculation
- ✅ Handles Deceleration: Correctly calculates negative acceleration
- ✅ 100% Accurate: Precise physics calculations
- ✅ Easy to Use: Simple interface for all skill levels
- ✅ Completely Free: No registration required
Understanding Acceleration
Acceleration measures how quickly velocity changes. It's the change in velocity divided by the time it takes to change.
- Positive Acceleration: Velocity is increasing (speeding up)
- Negative Acceleration (Deceleration): Velocity is decreasing (slowing down)
- Zero Acceleration: Constant velocity (no change)
- Units: Acceleration is measured in m/s² (meters per second squared)
- Example: A car going from 0 to 30 m/s in 5 seconds has acceleration of 6 m/s²
Real-World Applications
Vehicle Testing: Car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (26.8 m/s) in 6 seconds. Acceleration: a = (26.8 - 0) / 6 = 4.47 m/s².
Braking: A car slows from 25 m/s to 0 m/s in 5 seconds. Acceleration: a = (0 - 25) / 5 = -5 m/s² (deceleration).
Free Fall: An object in free fall (ignoring air resistance) accelerates at approximately 9.8 m/s² due to gravity.
Tips for Using This Calculator
- Use consistent units (m/s for velocity, seconds for time, m/s² for acceleration)
- Time cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined)
- Positive acceleration means speeding up
- Negative acceleration means slowing down (deceleration)
- Acceleration can be constant or changing; this calculator assumes constant acceleration
- The calculator also shows distance traveled during acceleration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is acceleration?
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. It tells you how fast an object's velocity is changing. Positive acceleration means speeding up, negative acceleration means slowing down.
What units are used for acceleration?
Acceleration is measured in m/s² (meters per second squared) in the metric system. In other systems, it might be ft/s² (feet per second squared) or other velocity/time units.
Can acceleration be negative?
Yes! Negative acceleration (also called deceleration) means the object is slowing down. For example, if velocity goes from 20 m/s to 10 m/s, acceleration is negative.
What if velocity is constant?
If initial and final velocities are the same, acceleration is zero. The object is moving at constant velocity with no change in speed.
Can time be zero?
No! Time cannot be zero because that would mean division by zero, which is undefined. There must be some time elapsed for acceleration to occur.
How is acceleration different from velocity?
Velocity is speed with direction (how fast you're going). Acceleration is how quickly velocity changes (how fast you're speeding up or slowing down).
What is the acceleration due to gravity?
On Earth, objects in free fall accelerate at approximately 9.8 m/s² due to gravity. This means every second, velocity increases by 9.8 m/s (ignoring air resistance).