Enter the net force and the sum of the masses into the calculator to determine the Theoretical Acceleration. 

Theoretical Acceleration Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Theoretical Acceleration.

TA = NF / SUM(m)
  • Where TA is the Theoretical Acceleration (m/s^2)
  • NF is the net force (N)
  • SUM(m) is the sum of the masses (kg)

To calculate a theoretical acceleration, divide the net force by the sum of the masses.

What are the units for Theoretical Acceleration?

In the International System of Units, also known as SI units, the units for Theoretical Acceleration are m/s^2.

How to Calculate Theoretical Acceleration?

Example Problem:

The following example problem outlines the steps and information needed to calculate the Theoretical Acceleration.

First, determine the net force. In this example, the net force is calculated or measured to be 36 (N).

Next, determine the sum of the masses. For this problem, the sum of the masses is determined to be 2 (kg).

Finally, calculate the Theoretical Acceleration  using the formula above: 

TA = NF / SUM(m)

Inserting the values from above and solving the equation with the imputed values gives: 

TA = 36 / 2 = 18 (m/s^2)