Acceleration Converter

Convert acceleration between m/s², ft/s², g, gal, and other acceleration units with scientific precision.

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Acceleration Units Explained

Meter/Square Second (m/s²)

The SI unit of acceleration. It represents the rate of change of velocity per unit time. a = dv/dt.

Common uses: Physics, engineering, vehicle dynamics, machinery analysis, international standards.

Foot/Square Second (ft/s²)

Acceleration in US customary units. 1 ft/s² ≈ 0.3048 m/s².

Common uses: US engineering, automotive design, aerospace calculations.

Acceleration of Gravity (g)

The acceleration due to Earth's gravity at sea level. 1 g ≈ 9.80665 m/s². Often used to express acceleration as a multiple of gravity.

Common uses: Vibration analysis, impact testing, vehicle dynamics, aerospace engineering.

Gal (Gal) or Galileo

A CGS unit of acceleration. 1 Gal = 0.01 m/s² = 1 cm/s². Commonly used in seismology and vibration measurements.

Common uses: Earthquake measurements, seismic monitoring, vibration analysis.

Centimeter/Square Second (cm/s²)

Acceleration in CGS units. 1 cm/s² = 1 Gal = 0.01 m/s². Used primarily in older scientific literature.

Note: Equivalent to the gal unit in seismology.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration: F = m × a

  • F: Force (Newtons)
  • m: Mass (kilograms)
  • a: Acceleration (m/s²)

Typical Acceleration Values

  • Free fall (Earth): 9.81 m/s² or 1 g
  • Car acceleration (0-60 mph): 3-8 m/s² or 0.3-0.8 g
  • Sports car acceleration: 8-15 m/s² or 0.8-1.5 g
  • Fighter jet acceleration: 50-80 m/s² or 5-8 g
  • Typical earthquake: 0.1-1 g
  • Centripetal acceleration (circular motion): v²/r
  • Moon's gravity: 1.62 m/s² or 0.165 g

Kinematics Equations

For constant acceleration motion, these equations relate displacement, velocity, time, and acceleration:

  • v = v₀ + at (velocity as function of time)
  • s = v₀t + ½at² (displacement)
  • v² = v₀² + 2as (velocity-displacement relationship)

Vibration and Shock Analysis

Acceleration is a key parameter in analyzing vibrations and shocks:

  • Vibration severity: Measured in g-forces or m/s²
  • Shock response: Peak acceleration during impact events
  • Frequency content: Different frequencies (Hz) have different acceleration profiles
  • RMS acceleration: Root mean square value for continuous signals