November 2025

Physics

velocity and acceleration calculator

/
Velocity & Acceleration Calculator

Velocity & Acceleration Calculator

Calculate velocity and acceleration for different scenarios. Choose between average and instantaneous calculations with graphical representations.

Velocity Calculator

Acceleration Calculator

Understanding Velocity and Acceleration

Velocity

Average Velocity: The total displacement divided by the total time taken. It gives an overall measure of how fast an object is moving in a specific direction over a time interval.

Instantaneous Velocity: The velocity of an object at a specific moment in time. It's calculated as the derivative of the position function with respect to time.

Acceleration

Average Acceleration: The change in velocity divided by the time taken for that change. It measures how quickly velocity changes over a time interval.

Instantaneous Acceleration: The acceleration at a specific moment in time. It's calculated as the derivative of the velocity function with respect to time.

Explore More Tools

Enhance your physics learning with our comprehensive collection of calculators and tools:

  • Force and Motion Calculator
  • Projectile Motion Simulator
  • Energy and Work Calculator
  • Simple Harmonic Motion Tool
  • Circular Motion Calculator
  • Momentum and Collisions Simulator

These tools help visualize concepts and solve complex physics problems with ease.

Deepen Your Understanding

Struggling with physics concepts? Our online courses provide:

  • Step-by-step video explanations
  • Interactive practice problems
  • Personalized feedback from instructors
  • Comprehensive study materials
  • Real-world application examples

Join thousands of students who have improved their physics grades with our structured learning approach.

Ready to Master Physics?

Take the next step in your physics journey. Our expert instructors are ready to help you succeed.

Join Online Learning
Physics

Units & Prefixes

/
Physics Units - Base, Derived & Supplementary | The Smart Learners

Units in Physics

Understanding Base, Derived & Supplementary Units for GCSE & A-Level

Base Units

Base units are the fundamental units in the International System of Units (SI) from which all other units are derived. There are seven base units:

Physical Quantity Unit Name Unit Symbol
Length metre m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric Current ampere A
Temperature kelvin K
Amount of Substance mole mol
Luminous Intensity candela cd

Did You Know?

The kilogram was the last SI base unit to be defined by a physical object. Since 2019, it has been defined in terms of fundamental constants.

Derived Units

Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking the corresponding quantities.

Physical Quantity Unit Name Unit Symbol In Base Units
Area square metre m² m²
Volume cubic metre m³ m³
Speed/Velocity metre per second m/s m·s⁻¹
Acceleration metre per second squared m/s² m·s⁻²
Force newton N kg·m·s⁻²
Pressure pascal Pa kg·m⁻¹·s⁻²
Energy/Work joule J kg·m²·s⁻²
Power watt W kg·m²·s⁻³
Electric Charge coulomb C A·s
Electric Potential volt V kg·m²·s⁻³·A⁻¹

Supplementary Units

Supplementary units are dimensionless units used to measure angles. They complete the SI system but are not considered base units.

Physical Quantity Unit Name Unit Symbol Definition
Plane Angle radian rad Angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius
Solid Angle steradian sr Solid angle subtended at the center of a sphere by an area equal to the square of the radius

SI Prefixes

SI prefixes are used to form decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units. They are essential for expressing very large or very small quantities.

Common Prefixes for GCSE & A-Level

Tera
T
10¹²
Giga
G
10⁹
Mega
M
10⁶
Kilo
k
10³
Hecto
h
10²
Deca
da
10¹
Deci
d
10⁻¹
Centi
c
10⁻²
Milli
m
10⁻³
Micro
μ
10⁻⁶
Nano
n
10⁻⁹
Pico
p
10⁻¹²

Prefix Conversion Tip

When converting between prefixes, remember that each step on the prefix scale represents a factor of 10. Moving to a smaller prefix means multiplying by 10, while moving to a larger prefix means dividing by 10.

More Physics Resources

Struggling with Physics?

Our expert tutors can help you master physics concepts and excel in your exams.

  • Personalized one-on-one sessions
  • GCSE & A-Level specialist tutors
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Exam technique guidance
Book a Free Trial Session

"The tutoring sessions completely transformed my understanding of physics. I went from struggling to achieve a C grade to scoring an A in my A-Levels!"

- Sarah, A-Level Student

Uncategorized

Colourful Calculator

/

Colourful Scientific Calculator

Colorful Calculator
0
​
Tip: You can type with your keyboard. Use ^ for power (or type **). Functions: sin(), cos(), tan(), asin(), acos(), atan(), ln(), log(), exp(), sqrt().
Scroll to Top