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

★ Add to Home Screen

Is this tool helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

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).

Important Disclaimer

The calculations, results, and content provided by our tools are not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or reliable. Users are responsible for verifying and interpreting the results. Our content and tools may contain errors, biases, or inconsistencies. We reserve the right to save inputs and outputs from our tools for the purposes of error debugging, bias identification, and performance improvement. External companies providing AI models used in our tools may also save and process data in accordance with their own policies. By using our tools, you consent to this data collection and processing. We reserve the right to limit the usage of our tools based on current usability factors. By using our tools, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this disclaimer. You accept the inherent risks and limitations associated with the use of our tools and services.

Create Your Own Web Tool for Free