Quick answer
Acceleration a = (v − u) ÷ t and distance = (u + v) ÷ 2 × t. Speeding up from 0 to 27.78 m/s (100 km/h) in 10 seconds is 2.778 m/s² and covers 138.9 m.
Enter initial velocity, final velocity and time. The calculator returns acceleration and distance.
Related tools: Magnitude of Acceleration Calculator: Magnitude of an acceleration vector from its components. Angular Acceleration Calculator: Angular acceleration from a change in angular velocity. SUVAT Calculator: Solve constant-acceleration motion for the missing quantities.
How to use the Acceleration Calculator
- Enter initial velocity (m/s).
- Enter final velocity (m/s).
- Enter time (s) (above 0).
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Initial velocity | A number, in m/s | — |
| Final velocity | A number, in m/s | — |
| Time | A number, in s | > 0 |
Formula and method
Formula
a = (v − u) ÷ t; distance = (u + v) ÷ 2 × t
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated.
Constant acceleration in a straight line.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Initial velocity = 0; Final velocity = 27.78; Time = 10.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Acceleration | 2.778 m/s² |
| Distance traveled | 138.9 m |
Example 2
Inputs: Initial velocity = 20; Final velocity = 0; Time = 5.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Acceleration | -4 m/s² |
| Distance traveled | 50 m |
Example 3
Inputs: Initial velocity = 5; Final velocity = 5; Time = 3.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Acceleration | 0 m/s² |
| Distance traveled | 15 m |
The first line is the headline result (acceleration). Below it the acceleration Calculator lists distance traveled, which describe the same case from other angles. IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated.
Worked example
27.78 ÷ 10 = 2.778 m/s², about 0.28 g. The average speed is 13.89 m/s, so in 10 s the car covers 138.9 m.
Deceleration
Negative values mean deceleration: braking from 27.78 to 0 in 3 s is −9.26 m/s², about 0.94 g. The formulas assume constant acceleration.
How the result changes with final velocity
Holding every other input at the first worked example, this table changes only final velocity. It shows how sensitive the answer is to that one value; each row was produced by running this calculator.
| Final velocity | Acceleration | Distance traveled |
|---|---|---|
| 13.89 | 1.389 m/s² | 69.45 m |
| 27.78 | 2.778 m/s² | 138.9 m |
| 55.56 | 5.556 m/s² | 277.8 m |
| 111.1 | 11.11 m/s² | 555.5 m |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Time: entering "0" shows "Time must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
- Initial velocity: left empty shows "Enter initial velocity." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Acceleration Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [Magnitude of Acceleration Calculator](/science/magnitude-of-acceleration-calculator/) | x component and y component | Magnitude |
| [Angular Acceleration Calculator](/science/angular-acceleration-calculator/) | initial angular velocity, final angular velocity and time | Angular acceleration |
| [SUVAT Calculator](/science/suvat/) | you know and initial velocity u | Final velocity v |
| [Projectile Motion Calculator](/science/projectile-motion-calculator/) | launch speed and launch angle | Range |
| [Free Fall Calculator](/science/free-fall-calculator/) | i know the and height or time | Fall time |
Background: motion and mechanics
For constant acceleration the standard relations are v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as and s = ½(u + v)t. Pick the equation that contains your three known quantities and the one you want. Use SI units (metres, seconds, kilograms, newtons, joules) throughout or the answer will be off by a factor.
These equations stop applying when acceleration changes during the motion, as with a rocket burning fuel; that needs calculus or numerical methods.
Assumptions and limitations
- Negative values mean deceleration
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for time and initial velocity to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 g?
1 g is the standard acceleration of gravity, 9.80665 m/s².
What if velocities are in km/h?
Convert to m/s by dividing by 3.6.
Does it work for non-constant acceleration?
It gives the average.
What does the Acceleration Calculator calculate?
Average acceleration from change in velocity over time. It returns Acceleration and Distance traveled.
What formula does the Acceleration Calculator use?
a = (v − u) ÷ t; distance = (u + v) ÷ 2 × t. Constant acceleration in a straight line.
What do I need to enter in the acceleration Calculator?
You enter Initial velocity (m/s), Final velocity (m/s) and Time (s).
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated. Negative values mean deceleration.
What is an example of a acceleration result?
With initial velocity 0, final velocity 27.78 and time 10, the acceleration is 2.778 m/s².
Related calculators
- Magnitude of Acceleration Calculator — Magnitude of an acceleration vector from its components.
- Angular Acceleration Calculator — Angular acceleration from a change in angular velocity.
- SUVAT Calculator — Solve constant-acceleration motion for the missing quantities.
- Projectile Motion Calculator — Range, flight time and peak height of a projectile without air resistance.
- Free Fall Calculator — Fall time, height and impact speed in free fall from rest.
- Terminal Velocity Calculator — Terminal speed of a falling object from mass, area and drag coefficient.
- Sound Level Calculator — Combine decibel levels, or convert sound intensity to decibels.
- Doppler Effect Calculator — Observed frequency from source and observer speeds.
Sources
- OpenStax, University Physics Volume 1 (Rice University): mechanics
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.