📈 Acceleration Calculator

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100 km/h = 27.78 m/s.
Acceleration (m/s²)
2.778
Distance covered (m)
138.9
Acceleration in g
0.283277
Speed gained per second (km/h per s)
10.0008

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📘 About the Acceleration

Acceleration is how quickly velocity changes. This acceleration calculator uses a = (v − u) ÷ t, where u is the starting velocity, v the final velocity and t the time taken.

A negative answer is a deceleration (retardation): the object is slowing down. The calculator also gives the distance covered while accelerating, assuming the acceleration is uniform, and the acceleration as a multiple of g (9.81 m/s²).

🧮 Formula

Acceleration
a = (v − u) ÷ t
Distance during uniform acceleration
s = (u + v) ÷ 2 × t

Where

  • a = acceleration (m/s²)
  • u = initial velocity (m/s)
  • v = final velocity (m/s)
  • t = time (s)
  • s = distance (m)
A negative acceleration means the object is slowing down (retardation or deceleration).

✏️ Worked examples

Car from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 s

You enter
Initial velocity (u)0 m/s
Final velocity (v)27.78 m/s
Time taken (t)10 s
You get
Acceleration (m/s²)2.778
Distance covered (m)138.9
Acceleration in g0.283277
Speed gained per second (km/h per s)10.0008

The car accelerates at 2.778 m/s² and covers 138.9 m.

Try this example →

Braking

You enter
Initial velocity (u)20 m/s
Final velocity (v)0 m/s
Time taken (t)4 s
You get
Acceleration (m/s²)-5
Distance covered (m)40
Acceleration in g-0.509858
Speed gained per second (km/h per s)-18

The acceleration is -5 m/s², a deceleration of 5 m/s².

Try this example →

🧭 How to use this calculator

What you enter

  • Initial velocity (u) (m/s)
  • Final velocity (v) (m/s)100 km/h = 27.78 m/s.
  • Time taken (t) (s)

What you get

  • Acceleration (m/s²)
  • Distance covered (m)
  • Acceleration in g
  • Speed gained per second (km/h per s)

💡 How to calculate acceleration

  • Convert speeds to m/s (divide km/h by 3.6).
  • Subtract the initial velocity from the final velocity.
  • Divide by the time in seconds.
  • The unit is metres per second squared (m/s²).

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is the formula for acceleration?

Acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time, a = (v − u) ÷ t. Its SI unit is m/s².

What does negative acceleration mean?

It means the velocity is decreasing. This is called deceleration or retardation.

What is 1 g of acceleration?

1 g is the acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface, about 9.81 m/s².

Can an object accelerate at constant speed?

Yes. An object moving in a circle at constant speed is accelerating because its direction keeps changing.