Calculate acceleration from velocity change and time, force and mass, or centripetal motion. Convert between m/s², g-force, ft/s², and more.
Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. Whether a car speeds up from a stoplight, a rocket launches skyward, or a ball decelerates as it rolls uphill, acceleration is the fundamental quantity that describes how motion changes. Understanding acceleration is essential in physics, engineering, automotive design, and everyday life.
This acceleration calculator supports multiple calculation modes. You can find acceleration from a change in velocity over a time interval (a = Δv / Δt), from force and mass using Newton's second law (a = F / m), or calculate centripetal acceleration for circular motion (a = v² / r). The calculator also converts results between common units including m/s², ft/s², km/h/s, mph/s, and g-force.
Whether you are a student solving homework problems, an engineer analyzing vehicle dynamics, or simply curious about the g-forces on a roller coaster, this tool gives you instant, accurate results with full unit conversion and reference data.
This acceleration calculator eliminates manual computation and unit conversion errors. Instead of juggling formulas and conversion factors, simply enter your values and get instant results in any unit. The multiple calculation modes let you approach the problem from any angle — whether you know the velocity change, the applied force, or the circular motion parameters.
The built-in presets for real-world scenarios make it easy to explore and understand how acceleration works in practice, from everyday driving to extreme forces in aviation. The g-force visualization helps you intuitively grasp the magnitude of the acceleration.
Acceleration: a = Δv / Δt (velocity change), a = F / m (Newton's 2nd law), a = v² / r (centripetal). G-force = a / 9.80665.
Result: 4 m/s²
A velocity change of 20 m/s over 5 seconds gives a = 20 / 5 = 4 m/s², which is about 0.408 g.
Acceleration is one of the three fundamental kinematic quantities, along with displacement and velocity. Sir Isaac Newton formalized the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration in his second law of motion. This law forms the foundation of classical mechanics and is used daily by engineers, physicists, and automotive designers worldwide.
**Linear acceleration** occurs when an object speeds up or slows down along a straight path. **Angular acceleration** describes changes in rotational speed. **Centripetal acceleration** acts toward the center of a circular path and is responsible for keeping objects moving in circles. **Gravitational acceleration** (g ≈ 9.81 m/s²) is the acceleration experienced by all objects in free fall near Earth's surface.
In automotive engineering, acceleration figures (like 0-60 mph times) are key performance metrics. Aerospace engineers must ensure pilots and passengers can withstand the g-forces during takeoff, maneuvers, and landing. Roller coaster designers carefully control acceleration profiles to create thrilling but safe rides. In sports science, measuring athletes' acceleration helps optimize training and performance.
Velocity is the rate of position change (speed with direction), while acceleration is the rate of velocity change. Acceleration describes how quickly an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction.
Yes. Negative acceleration (deceleration) means the object is slowing down in the positive direction. For example, a braking car has negative acceleration.
One g equals 9.80665 m/s², the standard acceleration due to Earth's gravity. Roller coasters can produce 3-5 g, while fighter pilots may experience 8-9 g.
Use Newton's second law: a = F / m. Divide the net force (in newtons) by the mass (in kg) to get acceleration in m/s².
Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration directed toward the center of a circular path. It equals v²/r where v is the speed and r is the radius of the circle.
The SI unit is meters per second squared (m/s²). Other common units include ft/s², km/h/s, mph/s, and g-force.
From F = ma, more mass means more force is needed to produce the same acceleration. This is the concept of inertia — resistance to changes in motion.