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Acceleration Converter

Convert between acceleration units including m/s², ft/s², g (gravity), Gal, km/h/s, and mph/s. Essential for physics, engineering, and automotive calculations.

Enter Acceleration Value

Quick Reference:
Standard gravity (g) = 9.80665 m/s²
1 g = 32.174 ft/s²
1 m/s² = 3.28084 ft/s²

All Conversions

Enter an acceleration value to see all conversions

Real-World Acceleration Examples

Free fall on Earth
9.8 m/s²
Standard gravity - objects falling near Earth's surface
Car braking (gentle)
3.0 m/s²
Typical gentle braking in a passenger vehicle
Car braking (hard)
8.0 m/s²
Emergency braking or ABS activation
Sports car acceleration
4.5 m/s²
High-performance vehicle 0-60 mph acceleration
Formula 1 car
6.5 m/s²
Professional racing car acceleration
Space shuttle launch
29.4 m/s²
Approximately 3g during launch phase
Roller coaster drop
19.6 m/s²
Approximately 2g during steep drops
Elevator (normal)
1.0 m/s²
Typical elevator acceleration

Acceleration is a fundamental concept in physics that describes how quickly an object's velocity changes over time. This converter helps you convert between different acceleration units used in physics, engineering, automotive design, and aerospace applications.

Understanding Acceleration Units

Common acceleration units and their uses:

  • m/s² (Meters per Second Squared): The SI unit, most commonly used in physics and engineering
  • ft/s² (Feet per Second Squared): Used in US engineering and automotive applications
  • g (Standard Gravity): Equal to 9.80665 m/s², used to express accelerations relative to Earth's gravity
  • Gal: 1 cm/s², used in geophysics and seismology for measuring gravitational variations
  • km/h/s: Used in automotive contexts, especially in Europe
  • mph/s: Used in US automotive contexts

Applications of Acceleration

Physics & Engineering:
• Motion analysis
• Force calculations (F = ma)
• Structural design
Automotive:
• Vehicle performance
• Braking distance calculations
• Safety testing
Aerospace:
• Rocket launches
• G-force calculations
• Spacecraft maneuvers
Geophysics:
• Seismic measurements
• Gravity surveys
• Earth science research

Key Formulas

Newton's Second Law: F = ma (Force = mass × acceleration)
Velocity from Acceleration: v = u + at (final velocity = initial velocity + acceleration × time)
Distance from Acceleration: s = ut + ½at² (distance = initial velocity × time + ½ × acceleration × time²)

Note: All conversions are mathematically exact. Standard gravity (g) is defined as exactly 9.80665 m/s². Negative acceleration values represent deceleration. The converter handles both positive and negative acceleration values.

FAQs

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