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SUVAT calculator

Choose the equation containing your three known quantities and one unknown. Signs refer to one fixed direction.

Calculator

Displacement
32
Final velocity
14
Velocity over calculated interval Line chart. The data table follows. 0 0 1 3.5 2 7 3 10.5 4 14 Time (s) Velocity (m/s)
Velocity over calculated interval data
SeriesTime (s)Velocity (m/s)
Velocity02
Velocity0.052.15
Velocity0.12.3
Velocity0.152.45
Velocity0.22.6
Velocity0.252.75
Velocity0.32.9
Velocity0.353.05
Velocity0.43.2
Velocity0.453.35
Velocity0.53.5
Velocity0.553.6500000000000004
Velocity0.63.8
Velocity0.653.95
Velocity0.74.1
Velocity0.754.25
Velocity0.84.4
Velocity0.854.55
Velocity0.94.7
Velocity0.954.85
Velocity15
Velocity1.055.15
Velocity1.15.300000000000001
Velocity1.155.449999999999999
Velocity1.25.6
Velocity1.255.75
Velocity1.35.9
Velocity1.356.050000000000001
Velocity1.46.199999999999999
Velocity1.456.35
Velocity1.56.5
Velocity1.556.65
Velocity1.66.800000000000001
Velocity1.656.949999999999999
Velocity1.77.1
Velocity1.757.25
Velocity1.87.4
Velocity1.857.550000000000001
Velocity1.97.699999999999999
Velocity1.957.85
Velocity28
Velocity2.058.149999999999999
Velocity2.18.3
Velocity2.158.45
Velocity2.28.600000000000001
Velocity2.258.75
Velocity2.38.899999999999999
Velocity2.359.05
Velocity2.49.2
Velocity2.459.350000000000001
Velocity2.59.5
Velocity2.559.649999999999999
Velocity2.69.8
Velocity2.659.95
Velocity2.710.100000000000001
Velocity2.7510.25
Velocity2.810.399999999999999
Velocity2.8510.55
Velocity2.910.7
Velocity2.9510.850000000000001
Velocity311
Velocity3.0511.149999999999999
Velocity3.111.3
Velocity3.1511.45
Velocity3.211.600000000000001
Velocity3.2511.75
Velocity3.311.899999999999999
Velocity3.3512.05
Velocity3.412.2
Velocity3.4512.350000000000001
Velocity3.512.5
Velocity3.5512.649999999999999
Velocity3.612.8
Velocity3.6512.95
Velocity3.713.100000000000001
Velocity3.7513.25
Velocity3.813.399999999999999
Velocity3.8513.55
Velocity3.913.7
Velocity3.9513.850000000000001
Velocity414

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How this calculator works

SUVAT names displacement s, initial velocity u, final velocity v, acceleration a and time t. Each equation omits one quantity, so choose a relation containing the unknown and your three independent known values. Acceleration must remain constant. Squared-velocity equations lose direction information and permit positive or negative velocity roots. Quadratic time equations can have two nonnegative solutions, corresponding to different visits to the same position; choose earlier or later and inspect the returned roots.

Formula

v=u+at; s=ut+at^2/2; s=vt-at^2/2; s=(u+v)t/2; v^2=u^2+2as.

Worked example

For u=2 m/s, a=3 m/s2 and t=4 s, s=32 m and v=14 m/s. With u=2 m/s, v=14 m/s and a=3 m/s2, the elapsed time is 4 s.

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Frequently asked questions

Can displacement be negative?

Yes. Choose one positive direction and keep all signed quantities consistent.

Why are there two possible times?

An object that reverses direction can pass the same position twice. Both roots can satisfy the equation.

Can I use SUVAT with varying acceleration?

Only as a constant-acceleration approximation over the chosen interval. The equations are not exact for arbitrary acceleration.

Sources

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