This page features three types of calculators to determine acceleration depending on the quantities you have. The first calculator requires final velocity, initial velocity, and time. The second is based on Newton's Second Law and requires force and mass. The third calculator, based on a kinematic equation, requires displacement, initial velocity, and time to find acceleration.
What is acceleration?
In simple terms, acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. For example, when you see a rocket launch, during the liftoff process, it moves slowly at first, and then its velocity increases over time. We can say the acceleration of the rocket is increasing.
Types of acceleration
- Uniform acceleration
- Non-uniform acceleration
- Linear acceleration
- Angular acceleration
- Centripetal acceleration
- Gravitational acceleration
Uniform acceleration
This is a type of acceleration in which the velocity of the object changes at a constant rate. This type of acceleration also has two forms:
- Uniformly increasing acceleration
- Uniformly decreasing acceleration
In uniformly increasing acceleration, the object's velocity is increasing by a constant rate. For example, the velocity of a car increases by a constant five miles per second.
In uniformly decreasing acceleration, the object's velocity is decreasing at a constant rate. For example, a car decreases its velocity at a constant rate of 5 miles per second.
Non-uniform acceleration
In this type of acceleration, the rate of change of an object's velocity is not constant. For example, if you are running in a crowded place, your rate of velocity change is not constant.
Linear acceleration
Linear acceleration occurs when an object's velocity changes as it moves along a straight path. This is the most common type of acceleration studied in introductory physics.
Angular acceleration
Angular acceleration is the rate of change of angular velocity, experienced by an object moving in a circular path or rotating, such as a car turning a corner or a spinning wheel.
Centripetal acceleration
Centripetal acceleration occurs when an object moves in a circular path at a constant speed. While the speed is constant, the direction of the velocity vector is always changing, resulting in acceleration directed towards the center of the circle.
Here are some additional examples of different types of acceleration:
Gravitational acceleration
This type of acceleration is caused by gravity. When an object is dropped from a height, it accelerates towards the center of the Earth.
Coriolis Acceleration:This type of acceleration is caused by the rotation of the Earth.
Tidal acceleration
This type of acceleration is caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun.
How to use the a=(vf- vi) / t calculator
- Step 1:Enter the initial velocity in the initial velocity input box and select the unit from the dropdown menu.
- Step 2:Enter the final velocity in the final velocity input box and select the unit of final velocity from the dropdown menu.
- Step 3:Enter the time in the time input box and select the unit of time from the dropdown menu.
- Step 4:The calculated acceleration result is shown in the acceleration box.
- Step 5:You can change the unit of the resulting acceleration from the dropdown menu; the result will automatically update according to the new unit.
- Step 6:For a new calculation, click the 'Clear' button to clear all fields.
How to use the a=F / m calculator
- Step 1:Enter the mass of the object in the mass input box and select the unit of mass from the dropdown menu.
- Step 2:Enter the force in the force input box and select the unit of the force from the dropdown menu.
- Step 3:The calculated acceleration is shown in the acceleration box.
- Step 4:You can change the unit of the resulting acceleration from the dropdown menu; the result will automatically update according to the new unit.
- Step 5:For a new calculation, click the 'Clear' button to clear all fields.
How to use the a=2(d - vᵢt) / t² calculator
- Step 1:Enter the displacement of the object in the displacement input box and select the unit of displacement from the dropdown menu.
- Step 2:Enter the initial velocity in the initial velocity input box and select the unit of initial velocity from the dropdown menu.
- Step 3:Enter the time in the time field and select the unit of time from the dropdown menu.
- Step 4:The calculated acceleration is shown in the acceleration box.
- Step 5:You can change the unit of the resulting acceleration from the dropdown menu; the result will automatically update according to the new unit.
- Step 6:For a new calculation, click the 'Clear' button to clear all fields.
