Acceleration Calculator
Inputs
Enter initial and final velocities along with time to find acceleration.
Understanding Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. An object's acceleration is the net result of any and all forces acting on the object, as described by Newton's Second Law.
If you press the gas pedal in a car, you accelerate (speed up). If you press the brake, you decelerate (negative acceleration).
The Acceleration Formula
The formula for average acceleration is:
a = (v_f - v_i) / t- a = Acceleration
- v_f = Final Velocity
- v_i = Initial Velocity
- t = Time interval
Units of Acceleration
The standard unit is meters per second squared (m/s²). This means "meters per second, per second."
For example, an acceleration of 5 m/s² means the object's speed increases by 5 meters per second every single second.
Examples
Example 1: Sports Car
A car goes from 0 to 60 km/h in 5 seconds.
- Initial (vi) = 0
- Final (vf) = 60
- Time (t) = 5
- Acceleration = (60 - 0) / 5 = 12 km/h per second
Example 2: Braking
A bike slows down from 10 m/s to 2 m/s in 4 seconds.
- Initial (vi) = 10
- Final (vf) = 2
- Time (t) = 4
- Acceleration = (2 - 10) / 4 = -8 / 4 = -2 m/s² (Deceleration)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'g'?
g represents the acceleration due to gravity on Earth, which is approximately 9.8 m/s². Free-falling objects accelerate at this rate.
Is deceleration negative acceleration?
Yes. When velocity decreases over time, the final velocity is smaller than the initial velocity, resulting in a negative acceleration value.
Can acceleration change?
Yes. This calculator finds average acceleration. In reality, acceleration can fluctuate (jerk).