Acceleration Calculator
Calculate linear acceleration from initial velocity, final velocity, and time using a = (v - u) / t. Results in metres per second squared. Ideal for kinematics problems, vehicle performance, and physics coursework.
How to use this tool
- Enter final velocity (v), initial velocity (u) and time (t) in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your acceleration and the full breakdown beneath it.
Formula
a = (v - u) / t
How it works
Acceleration a is the rate of change of velocity. Subtract initial velocity u from final velocity v and divide by elapsed time t.
Worked examples
Car accelerating from rest
Braking
Common mistakes to avoid
- Subtracting in the wrong order — the formula is (v - u) / t where v is final and u is initial velocity; reversing them flips the sign of acceleration.
- Using distance instead of velocity for u or v, mixing up kinematic quantities.
- Entering time in minutes instead of seconds, which understates acceleration by a factor of 60.
Key terms
Frequently asked questions
- What does a negative acceleration result mean?
- A negative result means the object is decelerating (slowing down if moving in the positive direction) or accelerating in the negative direction. It is sometimes called deceleration, but in physics it is simply acceleration with a negative sign.
- How does this relate to Newton's second law?
- Newton's second law F = ma links force to acceleration. Once you know acceleration from kinematics (a = (v-u)/t), multiplying by mass gives the net force acting on the object.
- Can this formula be used for non-uniform acceleration?
- No. a = (v - u) / t gives the average acceleration over the time interval. For non-uniform acceleration, calculus (a = dv/dt) or more detailed data points are needed.