Acceleration Conversion Calculator

Convert between different units of acceleration quickly and accurately

m/s²
1
centimeter per second squared (cm/s²)

Conversion Factors

All conversions are based on meter per second squared (m/s²) as the base unit:

Unit Symbol Conversion Factor to m/s²
centimeter per second squared cm/s² 0.01
foot per hour per second ft/(h·s) 8.46667E-05
foot per minute per second ft/(min·s) 0.00508
foot per second squared ft/s² 0.3048
galileo Gal 0.01
gravity (standard) gn 9.80665
inch per hour per second in/(h·s) 7.05556E-06
inch per minute per second in/(min·s) 4.23333E-04
inch per second squared in/s² 0.0254
meter per second squared m/s² 1
knot per second kn/s 0.5144444
mile per hour per second mi/(h·s) 0.44704
mile per minute per second mi/(min·s) 26.8244
mile per second squared mi/s² 1609.344

Based on conversion factors from NIST and CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

What is an Acceleration Conversion Calculator?

The Acceleration Conversion Calculator helps you instantly convert one unit of acceleration into another. Acceleration, in simple terms, measures how quickly velocity changes over time — usually expressed as meters per second squared (m/s²).

For example, when a car speeds up from 0 to 100 km/h in 5 seconds, its acceleration describes how fast that change happens. Different scientific and engineering fields use varying acceleration units, which is where a conversion tool becomes essential.

Why Convert Acceleration Units?

Acceleration can be expressed in many ways:

  • m/s² (meters per second squared) in physics and engineering
  • ft/s² (feet per second squared) in U.S. customary systems
  • g (gravitational acceleration) in aerospace and biomechanics
  • Gal (galileo) in geophysics

If you’re working with data from different systems or countries, you’ll often need to convert acceleration into compatible units.

For quick and accurate results, use an online Acceleration Conversion Calculator instead of manual computations.

How to Convert Acceleration Units Manually

Conversions are based on a conversion factor, which relates one unit to another. The general formula is simple:

S × C = E

Where:

  • S = starting value
  • C = conversion factor
  • E = end (converted) result

For instance, to convert 50 ft/(min·s) into m/s²:

50 × 0.00508 = 0.254 m/s²

If you want to convert back from m/s² to ft/(min·s), divide by the same factor:

0.254 ÷ 0.00508 = 50 ft/(min·s)

This approach works for any acceleration unit conversion.

Step-by-Step Example: How Unit Conversion Works

Suppose you want to convert ft/(min·s) to m/s².
You know that:

  • 1 meter = 3.28084 feet
  • 1 minute = 60 seconds

So,

1 ft/(min·s) = (1 m / 3.28084 ft) × (1 min / 60 s)
= 0.00508 m/s²

That’s your conversion factor. To reverse it:

1 m/s² = 1 ÷ 0.00508 = 196.8504 ft/(min·s)

This relationship allows precise back-and-forth conversions.

Common Acceleration Unit Conversions

Here’s a quick reference table of common acceleration conversions to m/s²:

From UnitSymbolMultiply by (to get m/s²)
centimeter per second squaredcm/s²0.01
foot per hour per secondft/(h·s)0.0000846667
foot per minute per secondft/(min·s)0.00508
foot per second squaredft/s²0.3048
galileoGal0.01
gravity (standard)gₙ9.80665
inch per hour per secondin/(h·s)0.00000705556
inch per minute per secondin/(min·s)0.000423333
inch per second squaredin/s²0.0254
meter per second squaredm/s²1
knot per secondkn/s0.514444
mile per hour per secondmi/(h·s)0.44704
mile per minute per secondmi/(min·s)26.8244
mile per second squaredmi/s²1609.344

You can use this table for manual conversions or verify results from the Acceleration Conversion Calculator.

Acceleration in Different Scientific Contexts

1. Physics and Engineering:
Acceleration calculations are crucial for mechanics, vehicle design, and aerospace research. Engineers often convert between m/s² and g when dealing with high-speed tests or impacts.

2. Geophysics and Earth Sciences:
In geophysics, acceleration is sometimes expressed in galileos (Gal) — particularly in gravitational studies.

3. Everyday Applications:
Acceleration values appear in sports science, automotive performance, and even smartphone sensors.

Whether you’re calculating gravitational pull or car acceleration, having a reliable unit converter ensures accuracy.

Related Conversions and Tools

While converting acceleration, you might also need to convert related quantities like force, distance, or energy.
Check out these useful tools:

These calculators maintain consistent accuracy across all scientific and engineering computations.

Formula Recap

To summarize, the plain text formula for converting acceleration is:

Converted Value = Original Value × Conversion Factor

Or when reversing:

Original Value = Converted Value ÷ Conversion Factor

You can also derive direct conversion factors between two non-metric units using:

Factor = (Factor A ÷ Factor B)

Example: Converting from ft/(min·s) to mi/(h·s)
= 0.00508 ÷ 0.44704 = 0.01136364

Tips for Accurate Acceleration Conversions

  • Always verify unit symbols — a small mistake (like confusing ft/s² with ft/(min·s)) can cause major errors.
  • Use scientific notation for very small or large accelerations.
  • Double-check your conversion factor with credible sources like NIST or the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
  • When working with gravitational acceleration, remember that 1 g = 9.80665 m/s².

An Acceleration Conversion Calculator saves time and eliminates the potential for human error in scientific calculations. Whether you’re a student learning basic physics or an engineer working with complex simulations, accurate unit conversion is a foundation for reliable results.

For quick, precise, and verified acceleration conversions, try the online calculator and explore related tools on CalculatorCave — your trusted hub for all scientific and practical conversions.

References: