Acceleration Calculator

Use our free Acceleration Calculator to calculate acceleration using velocity, time, and force. Includes formulas, examples, and SI units for quick learning.

⚡ Acceleration Calculator

Initial Velocity Unit Final Velocity Unit Time Taken Unit

What is an Acceleration Calculator?

An acceleration calculator is an online physics tool that helps determine the rate at which an object’s velocity changes over time. Acceleration is one of the fundamental concepts in physics that describes how quickly an object speeds up or slows down.

The Acceleration Calculator on GetOnlineCalculator.com allows students, teachers, and engineers to calculate acceleration instantly using formulas such as:

$\frac{v – u}{t}$ (based on velocity and time)
$\frac{F}{m}$ (based on force and mass)

Whether you’re solving school assignments or analyzing motion in engineering applications, this calculator provides quick and accurate results.

What Is Acceleration in Physics

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It can be positive (speeding up) or negative (slowing down, known as deceleration).

Formula for Acceleration

$\frac{v – u}{t}$

Where:

a = acceleration (m/s²)
v = final velocity (m/s)
u = initial velocity (m/s)
t = time taken (seconds)

This is the most commonly used formula in kinematics.

SI Unit of Acceleration

The standard unit of acceleration in the International System of Units (SI) is meters per second squared (m/s²).
It means that the velocity of an object increases by one meter per second every second.

How to Calculate Acceleration

You can calculate acceleration in two main ways depending on the known variables.

1. Using Velocity and Time

$\frac{v – u}{t}$

Example:
A car increases its speed from 10 m/s to 30 m/s in 5 seconds.

$\frac{30 – 10}{5} = \frac{20}{5} = 4 \, m/s²$

So, the car’s acceleration is 4 m/s².

2. Using Force and Mass

According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion,

$\times a$

Therefore,

$\frac{F}{m}$

Example:
If a force of 40 N is applied to a 10 kg object,

$\frac{40}{10} = 4 \, m/s²$

The object accelerates at 4 m/s².

Features of the Acceleration Calculator

Instant Results: Calculates acceleration immediately.
Multiple Input Methods: Choose between (velocity & time) or (force & mass).
Step-by-Step Display: Shows how the formula is applied.
Supports SI and Imperial Units: m/s² or ft/s².
Completely Free: No signup or software required.

How to Use the Acceleration Calculator

Go to the Acceleration Calculator page on GetOnlineCalculator.com.
Select the calculation mode:
- Velocity & Time, or
- Force & Mass
Enter the required values.
Click Calculate.
Instantly view your acceleration result.

Example Input:

Initial Velocity = 5 m/s
Final Velocity = 20 m/s
Time = 3 s

Output:

$\frac{20 – 5}{3} = 5 \, m/s²$

Understanding Positive and Negative Acceleration

Positive Acceleration

When an object speeds up, its velocity increases with time.
Example: A bike moving from 0 to 60 km/h in 6 seconds.

Negative Acceleration (Deceleration)

When an object slows down, velocity decreases with time.
Example: A car coming to a stop after braking.

Graphical Representation of Acceleration

In a velocity-time graph, acceleration is represented by the slope of the line.

A straight, upward slope indicates constant acceleration.
A flat line indicates no acceleration (constant speed).
A downward slope indicates negative acceleration.

Real-World Applications of Acceleration

Automotive Engineering: Designing braking and speed control systems.
Aerospace Science: Measuring thrust and drag in rockets and airplanes.
Sports Science: Tracking athlete motion and sprint analysis.
Robotics: Calculating motor acceleration and motion control.
Physics Education: Teaching fundamental kinematic principles.

Acceleration in Different Contexts

Type	Formula	Unit	Example
Linear Acceleration	$\frac{v – u}{t}$	m/s²	Car speeding up
Angular Acceleration	$\frac{ω – ω₀}{t}$	rad/s²	Spinning wheel
Tangential Acceleration	$a_t = r × α$	m/s²	Object on a rotating disk
Centripetal Acceleration	$ac=v2ra_c = \frac{v²}{r}$	m/s²	Car turning on a curve

Example 1 – Linear Acceleration

A train moves from rest (u = 0) to 72 km/h (20 m/s) in 10 seconds.

$\frac{20 – 0}{10} = 2 \, m/s²$

The train’s acceleration is 2 m/s².

Example 2 – Force-Based Acceleration

A 5 kg object is pushed with a force of 25 N.

$\frac{25}{5} = 5 \, m/s²$

The acceleration of the object is 5 m/s².

Example 3 – Centripetal Acceleration

An object moves in a circle of radius 2 m with a speed of 6 m/s.

$m/s2a_c = \frac{v²}{r} = \frac{6²}{2} = \frac{36}{2} = 18 \, m/s²$

Centripetal acceleration = 18 m/s² toward the center.

Relationship Between Force, Mass, and Acceleration

Concept	Formula	Explanation
Newton’s Second Law	F = m × a	Force causes acceleration proportional to mass.
Constant Mass	a = F / m	For a given mass, acceleration increases with force.
Constant Force	a ∝ 1/m	Heavier objects accelerate less under same force.

You can calculate related values using the Force Calculator.

Difference Between Speed and Acceleration

Parameter	Speed	Acceleration
Definition	Rate of change of distance	Rate of change of velocity
Formula	$\frac{d}{t}$	$\frac{v – u}{t}$
Unit	m/s	m/s²
Direction	Scalar	Vector

Use our Speed Calculator to calculate uniform or average speed.

Integration with Other Physics Tools

The Acceleration Calculator complements:
Force Calculator
Pressure Calculator
Speed Calculator
Together, these form the Physics and Motion Calculator Suite for students and researchers.

Tips to Understand Acceleration Better

Practice with different motion scenarios.
Always check the direction of velocity change.
Convert all units (km/h to m/s) before calculation.
Use the calculator to test multiple conditions quickly.
Visualize acceleration using motion graphs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Acceleration Calculator?

It’s an online tool that calculates the rate of change of velocity over time or using force and mass.

How Do You Calculate Acceleration?

Use a = (v – u) / t or a = F / m.

What Is the Unit of Acceleration?

Meters per second squared (m/s²).

Can Acceleration Be Negative?

Yes, when velocity decreases over time (deceleration).

Is It Free?

Yes. The Acceleration Calculator on GetOnlineCalculator.com is completely free and mobile-optimized.

Why Use GetOnlineCalculator.com for Physics Tools

GetOnlineCalculator.com offers accurate, easy-to-use online calculators built for students and professionals. The Acceleration Calculator helps analyze motion and force effortlessly, while related tools like
Force Calculator
Pressure Calculator
and Speed Calculator
make studying physics intuitive and engaging.

Reference

For in-depth physics tutorials on motion and acceleration, visit Physics Classroom – Acceleration Lesson.

Acceleration Calculator