Acceleration Calculator

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. Given a starting and ending velocity and the time between them, this calculator finds the (average, assumed constant) acceleration.

It also reports the distance covered during that time, using the average of the initial and final velocities — exact when acceleration is constant.

The formula

a = (v − u) ÷ t; distance = ((u + v) ÷ 2) × t

Worked example

Accelerating from rest to 20 m/s in 4 s means 5 m/s², covering 40 m in the process.

The example is pre-loaded in the result panel — press Calculate with your own numbers to replace it.

Frequently asked questions

Can acceleration be negative?

Yes — a final velocity lower than the initial velocity gives negative acceleration (deceleration), for example −5 m/s² when slowing down.

What acceleration is 0–100 km/h in 5 seconds?

100 km/h is 27.78 m/s, so a = 27.78 ÷ 5 ≈ 5.56 m/s² — a little over half of g (9.81 m/s²).

Category: Science calculators

Sources & methodology

This calculator applies the formula shown on this page exactly as written, using the standard definitions for its inputs. Results are computed from the values you enter — no data is stored — and are rounded only for display.

Content last reviewed 2026-10-21 by CalcHub Editorial.

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Acceleration	5.0000 m/s²
Distance covered	40.0000 m
Average velocity	10.0000 m/s

Quick answer