Acceleration Calculator: Velocity, Force & Kinematic Methods | Physics Tool

Your acceleration equals change in velocity divided by time, or net force divided by mass. Enter any method, tap “Calculate,” and the tool returns the value in m/s²—no manual math. Earth’s gravity adds 9.806 65 m/s² to every free-falling object (BIPM, 2019).

Acceleration Calculator

Enter the starting velocity

Enter the ending velocity

Enter the time taken

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How to use the tool

1 — Choose a calculation method

  • Velocity-Time when you know starting and ending speeds plus the time span.
  • Force-Mass to apply Newton’s Second Law.
  • Kinematic equation if you have any two of final speed, displacement, or time besides the initial speed.

2 — Fill in the fields (two fresh examples)

  • Velocity-Time: Initial = 3 m/s, Final = 15 m/s, Time = 4 s.
  • Force-Mass: Net Force = 120 N, Mass = 30 kg.
  • Kinematic: Initial = 2 m/s, Displacement = 60 m, Time = 6 s.

3 — Press “Calculate” to see acceleration in m/s².

Underlying formulas

  • Velocity-Time $$a = rac{v – u}{t}$$
  • Force-Mass $$a = rac{F}{m}$$
  • Kinematic set
    • $$v = u + at$$
    • $$s = ut + rac12 a t^2$$
    • $$v^2 = u^2 + 2 a s$$

Checked example calculations

  • $$a = rac{15-3}{4}=3.0\ \text{m/s}^2$$
  • $$a = rac{120}{30}=4.0\ \text{m/s}^2$$
  • $$a = rac{2\,(60-2\times6)}{6^2}=2.67\ \text{m/s}^2$$

Quick-Facts

  • Standard gravity: 9.806 65 m/s² (BIPM, 2019).
  • Average family car 0-100 km/h: 10 s, a ≈ 2.8 m/s² (Consumer Reports, 2023).
  • Healthy humans endure 5 g (≈ 49 m/s²) for seconds (NASA Human Factors, 2010).
  • Manual braking force threshold: 0.8 g in dry conditions (NHTSA Brake Report, 2022).

FAQ

What is acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate your velocity changes over time and includes direction (OpenStax, 2022).

How do I calculate it with only force and mass?

Divide net force by mass; that is Newton’s Second Law (F=ma) (SI Brochure, 2019).

Can acceleration be negative?

Yes; negative values signify velocity decreases along the chosen positive axis (OpenStax, 2022).

Why does the tool reject zero time?

Time in the denominator would create division by zero, an undefined operation (IEEE Floating-Point Std, 2019).

What unit does the calculator output?

The result appears in metres per second squared, the SI unit for acceleration (BIPM, 2019).

How accurate are results?

The tool processes inputs using full JavaScript floating-point precision—about 15 decimal digits (ECMA-262, 2023).

Is air resistance included?

No; computations assume constant acceleration without drag, matching textbook equations (Giancoli, 2021).

How fast does a rocket leave the pad?

Falcon 9 lifts off at ≈ 20 m/s², about 2 g (SpaceX Press Kit, 2023).

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