Unit Conversion

Convert numbers between two units quickly and precisely

Acceleration

Unit Conversion

Convert acceleration units: m/s², standard gravity, and Gal

Acceleration is measured in meters per second squared (m/s²), the SI unit, as well as in multiples of standard gravity g (≈ 9.81 m/s²). In geophysics, Gal is also common, while in the US foot per second squared (ft/s²) and kilometers per hour squared (km/h²) are used.

Key conversion factors:

  • 1 g (standard gravity) = 9.80665 m/s² – standard value at sea level
  • 1 Gal = 0.01 m/s² – common in geophysics and seismology
  • 1 foot per second² (ft/s²) = 0.3048 m/s²
  • 1 kilometer per hour² (km/h²) ≈ 7.72 * 10^-5 m/s² – a very small value, relevant for acceleration figures from vehicle data

Applications:

  • Automotive engineering: 0-to-100-km/h acceleration figures in m/s²
  • Aerospace: g-forces on pilots and astronauts in multiples of g
  • Geophysics: earthquake measurement in Gal
  • Physics: free fall and projectile motion

The acceleration converter supports comparing vehicle performance and physics calculations. For the underlying speed, use the speed converter.

Frequently asked questions about converting acceleration

1 g (standard gravity) equals 9.80665 m/s². This figure is often used to illustrate acceleration, for example for roller coasters, aircraft, or rocket launches, where values are given as multiples of g.

Gal (named after Galileo Galilei) is a CGS unit for acceleration, where 1 Gal = 0.01 m/s². It's mainly used in geophysics and seismology, for example to state ground acceleration during earthquakes.

1 km/h² equals only about 7.72 * 10^-5 m/s², because a change of 1 km/h over an hour represents a very small acceleration. For everyday acceleration figures (e.g. vehicle acceleration), calculations are therefore usually done directly in m/s² or g instead of km/h².