Q&A for How to Calculate Acceleration

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  • Question
    How do you solve acceleration word problems?
    Sean Alexander, MS
    Academic Tutor
    Sean Alexander is an Academic Tutor specializing in teaching mathematics and physics. Sean is the Owner of Alexander Tutoring, an academic tutoring business that provides personalized studying sessions focused on mathematics and physics. With over 15 years of experience, Sean has worked as a physics and math instructor and tutor for Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Stanbridge Academy. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MS in Theoretical Physics from San Francisco State University.
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  • Question
    What is the SI unit for acceleration?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    SI units are standardized units that are used internationally in scientific writing. When describing acceleration, use the SI units meters per seconds squared (m/s^2).
  • Question
    How do you calculate acceleration without time?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If you know that acceleration is constant, you can solve for it without time if you have the initial and final velocity of the object as well as the amount of displacement. Use the formula v^2=u^2+2as where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is acceleration, and s is displacement. Solve for a to find acceleration.
  • Question
    Can acceleration become zero?
    Community Answer
    Yes. If the object is not moving, or is moving at a constant speed in a straight line, the acceleration is zero.
  • Question
    How do I calculate velocity?
    Community Answer
    The equation or formula for velocity is similar to the one for speed. To figure out velocity, you divide the distance by the time it takes to travel that distance, and then you add your direction to it.
  • Question
    A body starts from rest and acquires a velocity of 10 m/s in 2s; what's the acceleration?
    Mark Cabotage
    Community Answer
    The formula is final velocity - initial velocity / time. The final velocity is 10 m/s, because the body's final movement as we know is 10m/s. The initial velocity is 0 m/s, because it states, "A body starts from rest." 10 m/s - 0m/s / 2 s, eventually you'll get 5 m/s/s.
  • Question
    How do I calculate the normal force when I have a mass of 10 kg, angle of inclination _=15, length of 10 m and the coefficient of kinetic friction = 0,15?
    Community Answer
    Calculating the normal force here, you will only need the mass and angle of inclination of this surface. When placing the X-axis on the ramp of your free body diagram and if the only force acting on your object of 10kg is gravity of Earth, then looking at the Y-axis of your diagram, you should see that that normal force is equal to the Y-component of the gravitational force. Considering the angle given, you should see the normal force is equal to (mass * gravityAcceleration * sin(15)).
  • Question
    A force of 18 N is applied to a 4-kg block that is at rest on a level surface. Find the acceleration. How fast and how far did the block travel in 5 seconds?
    Community Answer
    Acceleration: F = ma; 18 = 4a; a= 4.5. Velocity (how fast): V[final]= V[initial]+at. Since the object starts at rest, the V[initial] is zero. V[final] = (4.5)(5). Velocity = 22.5 m/s. Distance (how far): D = vt; D = (22.5)(5); D = 112.5 m.
  • Question
    What is the acceleration of an object?
    Community Answer
    Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity over time. For example, consider a car accelerating from a stoplight to 60 mph. Its initial velocity is zero, but over a time of several seconds, its velocity increases until it reaches 60 mph. If the car remains at 60 mph without changing velocity, then its acceleration would be zero, or zero change in velocity over time.
  • Question
    How do I calculate net force?
    Community Answer
    Net force is the sum of all the forces acting on an object. For example, the net force of two people pushing a box the same direction would be the sum of the force exerted by each person. The same goes for two people pushing against each other, but one force will be negative.
  • Question
    A bus travels at a distance of 90 km in two hrs and another 30 km in one hour. What is the average speed of the bus?
    Community Answer
    Convert the distances to meters and the times taken to seconds for both and apply the formular distance/time taken, add your answers and divide by two.
  • Question
    What is an example of negative acceleration in a daily situation?
    Community Answer
    Throwing a ball into the air (the acceleration becomes negative as it approaches its height of potential before falling and it slows down). Or a car decelerating.
  • Question
    Are the mass and the weight of an object the same?
    Community Answer
    No; mass is the amount of space an object takes up. Weight is the amount of gravitational pull on an object.
  • Question
    How do I calculate acceleration using the initial and final velocity?
    Community Answer
    You just subtract the final velocity from the initial velocity (which may be 0 if not given in the problem), then you divide by the time given.
  • Question
    How do I find the initial and final velocity?
    Community Answer
    At rest, initial velocity is zero. Use the formula v = u + at, where v is the final velocity, u being the initial velocity.
  • Question
    Can acceleration be equal to velocity?
    Community Answer
    Acceleration equals delta velocity divided by delta time. Now, any delta quantity equals the final value for the quantity minus the original value for the quantity. So, delta velocity, or change in velocity, equals the final velocity minus the original velocity.
  • Question
    How do I calculate initial acceleration?
    Community Answer
    To find initial velocity, start by multiplying the acceleration by the time. Then, divide that number by 2 and write down the quotient you get. Next, divide the distance by the time and write down that quotient as well. Finally, subtract your first quotient from your second quotient to find the initial velocity.
  • Question
    How do I calculate mass and acceleration if the Fnet is the only given?
    Community Answer
    You can't. You need to know two of the three variables.
  • Question
    How do I find acceleration?
    Community Answer
    You can do so by using the formula "a =v/t" when velocity and time are given, or "a=f/m" when force and mass are known.
  • Question
    A hiker's initial speed at the bottom of the hill is 1.8 m/s, and 1.5 m/s when the hiker reaches the top. It took the hiker 180 seconds to climb the hill. How do I calculate the hiker's acceleration?
    Community Answer
    You use the first method. Delta V is 1.5 m/s - 1.8 m/s. Delta t is 180 s - 0 s. Now just plug the values in the formula.
  • Question
    Is the acceleration 0 when an object is at a constant velocity?
    Community Answer
    Acceleration can be zero if the object is not moving or is moving at a constant (unchanging) speed in a straight line. Changing direction counts as acceleration.
  • Question
    How do I calculate acceleration due to gravity?
    Community Answer
    A = [1/2m(9.8 m/second^2)] / t^2.
  • Question
    If a girl is running along a straight line road with a uniform velocity of 1.5m/s, how do I find her acceleration?
    Community Answer
    She is not accelerating because she is running at a uniform velocity.
  • Question
    Does weight also matter in acceleration, speed, or velocity?
    Community Answer
    I'm assuming you're asking whether or not mass is a factor in calculating these variables. Weight and mass are not quite the same thing, but that's another topic. Mass is related to acceleration by Newton's 2nd law: F=m*a, so an increased weight decreases acceleration, which means the amount of gained velocity per second is also decreased.
  • Question
    How do I calculate acceleration if I have mass, but not force?
    Community Answer
    You can't. F = ma requires the presence of force to cause acceleration. Acceleration is a component of force. Without acceleration, then mass x acceleration cannot exist, so force cannot exist.
  • Question
    How can I calculate velocity?
    Community Answer
    If you are using speed in MPH, multiply the speed by 1.46. To get speed from velocity...divide MPH by the 1.46 figure.
  • Question
    A truck starts from rest and rolls down a hill with constant acceleration. It travels a distance of 400m in 20s. Find its acceleration. How do I find it without using s=ut+1/2 at square?
    Community Answer
    First calculate the truck's velocity: v=s/t= 400/20 = 20 m/s. If the car is at constant acceleration, you can simply apply a=v/t= 20/20 = 1 m/(s^2).
  • Question
    How do I calculate acceleration when forces are acting on the object from four different directions?
    Community Answer
    If they are parallel but opposite directions, then the forces in one direction will be positive and the opposing negative. Then you find the sum.
  • Question
    A car is sitting at a traffic light. When the light turns green, the car begins moving, accelerating at a constant rate. After 9.6 seconds the car has moved 277 meters. What is the acceleration?
    sandip kewat
    Community Answer
    We can use the following kinematic equation to solve for the acceleration of the car: d = (1/2)at^2 + v₀t, where d is the distance traveled by the car, a is the acceleration of the car, t is the time taken, and v₀ is the initial velocity (which is 0 in this case). Substituting the given values, we get 277m = (1/2) a (9.6 s)^2. Solving for a, we get a = 277 m / (1/2) / (9.6 s)^2. a ≈ 3.28 m/s^2. Therefore, the acceleration of the car is approximately 3.28 m/s^2.
  • Question
    What is the acceleration of a ball with a mass of 0.40 kg that is hit with a force of 16 N?
    sandip kewat
    Community Answer
    To calculate the acceleration of the ball, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. So, in this case, the force acting on the ball is 16 N, and the mass of the ball is 0.40 kg. Therefore, the acceleration of the ball can be calculated as: Acceleration = Force / Mass = 16 N / 0.40 kg = 40 m/s/s. So the acceleration of the ball is 40 meters per second per second.
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