Acceleration Converter
Convert acceleration between m/s², cm/s², ft/s², standard gravity (g), and Gal.
How to use this tool
- Enter acceleration and from unit in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your m/s² and the full breakdown beneath it.
Formula
All values convert to a base in m/s² first, then divide by the target unit's factor:
base (m/s²) = input × factorfrom
Factors: 1 g = 9.80665 m/s², 1 ft/s² = 0.3048 m/s², 1 Gal = 0.01 m/s², 1 cm/s² = 0.01 m/s².
How it works
The converter first multiplies the input value by its unit's factor to reach a common base of metres per second squared (m/s²), then divides by each target unit's factor to produce every output simultaneously. Standard gravity (g) is defined as exactly 9.80665 m/s² by international convention, making it a fixed conversion rather than an approximation.
Common mistake: People often confuse the Gal (a CGS unit equal to 0.01 m/s², used in geophysics) with the unit symbol for gallons — the two are completely unrelated; 1 Gal = 1 cm/s², not a volume measure.
Worked example
Convert 1 standard gravity (g) to all acceleration units
- Start with input: 1 g.
- Convert to base: 1 × 9.80665 = 9.80665 m/s².
- Divide by each factor: m/s² = 9.80665 / 1; cm/s² = 9.80665 / 0.01 = 980.665; ft/s² = 9.80665 / 0.3048 ≈ 32.174; g = 9.80665 / 9.80665 = 1; Gal = 9.80665 / 0.01 = 980.665.
1 g = 9.80665 m/s², 980.665 cm/s², 32.174 ft/s², 1 g, 980.665 Gal.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing standard gravity (g = 9.80665 m/s2) with gravitational acceleration on other planets -- g is a defined constant used in this converter, not a measurement of local gravity which varies by location and altitude.
- Entering Gal (cm/s2) values expecting m/s2 output without noting the 100x scale difference -- 980.665 Gal = 1 g, not 9.80665 Gal.
- Mixing up acceleration (m/s2) and velocity (m/s) in physics problems -- acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, not velocity itself.
Key terms
- m/s² (metres per second squared)
- The SI unit of acceleration; an object accelerating at 1 m/s² gains 1 metre per second of speed every second.
- Standard gravity (g)
- A defined constant of 9.80665 m/s², representing the nominal gravitational acceleration at Earth's surface. Used as a reference, not a measurement of any specific location.
- Gal
- A CGS unit of acceleration equal to 1 cm/s² (0.01 m/s²), named after Galileo. Widely used in gravimetry and geophysics to express small variations in gravitational pull.
- ft/s² (feet per second squared)
- The imperial unit of acceleration; 1 ft/s² = 0.3048 m/s². Still used in aerospace and some engineering contexts in the United States.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 1 g of acceleration feel like?
- 1 g is the acceleration due to Earth gravity at the surface (9.80665 m/s2). You always feel 1 g standing still. Fighter pilots may experience 9 g in tight turns; roller coasters typically peak at 4-6 g momentarily.
- What is a Gal and who uses it?
- A Gal (named after Galileo) equals 1 cm/s2 = 0.01 m/s2. It is used in geophysics and gravimetry to measure tiny variations in gravitational acceleration across Earth surface, which reveal subsurface density differences.
- How does acceleration relate to g-force?
- G-force is acceleration expressed as a multiple of standard gravity (9.80665 m/s2). An acceleration of 29.4 m/s2 equals 3 g. Negative g-force occurs when the acceleration vector opposes gravity, such as during an outside loop in an aircraft.