Acceleration Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the acceleration calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Acceleration Calculator

Formulas Used

Acceleration

acceleration = (vf - vi) / time

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
viInitial Velocity(m/s)0
vfFinal Velocity(m/s)20
timeTime(s)5

How It Works

How Acceleration Is Computed

Acceleration quantifies the rate of velocity change per unit time.

Defining Equation

a = (v_f - v_i) / t

A positive result means speeding up in the positive direction; a negative result indicates deceleration.

Worked Example

A car speeds up from rest to 20 m/s in 5 seconds.

vi = 0vf = 20time = 5
  1. 01a = (vf - vi) / t
  2. 02a = (20 - 0) / 5
  3. 03a = 4 m/s²

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Acceleration Calculator