Enter any 3 values (power, mass, time, or acceleration) into the calculator to solve for the missing variable. This tool estimates average acceleration from rest over the time interval, assuming constant power and no losses.
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HP to Acceleration Formula
The following equation is used to estimate the average acceleration from rest when a constant power output is applied for a time t (idealized; ignores drivetrain losses, traction limits, drag, and changing power with speed).
Aavg = v / t = √(2 P / (m t)).
- Where Aavg is the average acceleration over the time interval (m/s^2)
- P is the power (watts). If horsepower is given, convert using 1 hp = 745.7 W
- m is the mass (kg)
- t is the time (s)
| Horsepower (hp) | Acceleration (m/s²) | Acceleration (ft/s²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.315 | 1.035 |
| 5 | 0.705 | 2.314 |
| 10 | 0.997 | 3.271 |
| 15 | 1.221 | 4.007 |
| 20 | 1.410 | 4.626 |
| 25 | 1.577 | 5.173 |
| 30 | 1.727 | 5.666 |
| 40 | 1.994 | 6.543 |
| 50 | 2.230 | 7.316 |
| 60 | 2.442 | 8.014 |
| 75 | 2.731 | 8.958 |
| 100 | 3.154 | 10.348 |
| 150 | 3.862 | 12.671 |
| 200 | 4.460 | 14.633 |
| 250 | 4.986 | 16.356 |
| 300 | 5.462 | 17.918 |
| 400 | 6.306 | 20.690 |
| 500 | 7.051 | 23.132 |
| 750 | 8.636 | 28.332 |
| 1000 | 9.971 | 32.713 |
| Assumes mass = 1500 kg and time = 10 s. Model (constant power from rest): aavg = √(2P/(m t)) with P = HP × 745.7 W. Unit facts: 1 hp = 745.7 W, 1 m/s² = 3.28084 ft/s². | ||
What are the units for HP to Acceleration?
Acceleration is most commonly expressed in SI units of m/s² (meters per second squared), though ft/s² is also common in US customary units.
How to Calculate HP to Acceleration?
Example Problem:
The following example problem outlines the steps and information needed to calculate the HP to Acceleration.
First, determine the total horsepower. In this example, the total horsepower is determined to be 500 (horsepower).
Next, determine the mass. For this problem, the mass is measured to be 5000 (kg).
Next, determine the time. In this case, the time is found to be 10 (s).
Finally, calculate the (average) acceleration using the formula above:
A = SQRT( (2*HP*745.7) / (m*t) )
Inserting the values from above and solving the equation with the imputed values gives:
A = SQRT( (2*500*745.7) / (5000*10) ) = 3.86 (m/s^2)
