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Physics & Mechanics calculators
Physics & Mechanics calculators: Work out speed, force, energy, motion, waves and gas behavior from the standard physics formulas.
Specify the physical model as well as units: constant acceleration, negligible drag, small-angle oscillation and an ideal gas are assumptions with limits.
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
Speed is how fast something moves. Velocity is speed with a direction. A car circling a track at a steady 30 mph has a constant speed and a changing velocity, because its direction keeps changing
Which units do the formulas expect?
Meters, kilograms and seconds, which give newtons, joules and watts. A speed in miles per hour or a mass in pounds needs converting first, or the result will be wrong by a fixed factor
Horsepower Calculator
Compare an engine's output at a given RPM with the figure quoted on its spec sheet.
Inputs: Torque (lb-ft), Engine speed (RPM)
Open calculator →02Speed, Distance and Time Calculator
Check whether a trip's average speed fits the schedule you planned.
Inputs: Distance, Hours, Minutes
Open calculator →03Kinetic Energy Calculator
See how much more energy a small increase in speed adds.
Inputs: Mass (kg), Speed (m/s)
Open calculator →04Newton's Second Law Force Calculator
Convert a mass and an acceleration into the force a rope, bolt or motor must carry.
Inputs: Mass (kg), Acceleration (m/s²)
Open calculator →05Uniform Acceleration Calculator
Predict how far and how fast something goes when it speeds up at a steady rate.
Inputs: Initial speed (m/s), Acceleration (m/s²), Time (s)
Open calculator →06Hooke's Law Calculator
Check the load a spring carries or the energy it stores at a given stretch.
Inputs: Spring constant (N/m), Stretch or compression (m)
Open calculator →07Ideal Gas Law Calculator
Estimate the pressure in a sealed container as the temperature or volume changes.
Inputs: Amount of gas (mol), Temperature (K), Volume (L)
Open calculator →08Gravitational Potential Energy Calculator
See how much energy a lifted load stores and releases if it falls.
Inputs: Mass (kg), Gravity (m/s²), Height (m)
Open calculator →09Work and Power Calculator
Find the energy a push or a pull transfers, and how fast it happens.
Inputs: Force (N), Distance (m), Angle between force and motion (degrees), Time taken (s)
Open calculator →10Wavelength and Frequency Calculator
Turn a radio station or a Wi-Fi channel's frequency into the size of its wave.
Inputs: Frequency (MHz)
Open calculator →11Projectile Motion Calculator
Predict where a thrown or launched object lands on level ground.
Inputs: Launch speed (m/s), Launch angle (degrees), Gravity (m/s²)
Open calculator →12Free Fall Calculator
Estimate how long a drop takes and how fast the object hits, ignoring air.
Inputs: Drop height (m), Gravity (m/s²)
Open calculator →13Centripetal Force Calculator
Check the grip a vehicle needs to hold a turn at a given speed.
Inputs: Mass (kg), Speed (m/s), Turn radius (m)
Open calculator →14Pendulum Period Calculator
Find the swing time of a pendulum, a swing or a clock weight.
Inputs: Pendulum length (m), Gravity (m/s²)
Open calculator →Go deeper
Physics & Mechanics guides
Physics & Mechanics calculator results and examples
| Calculator | What it answers | Headline output | Worked example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower Calculator | Compare an engine's output at a given RPM with the figure quoted on its spec sheet. | Horsepower | 285.6 |
| Speed, Distance and Time Calculator | Check whether a trip's average speed fits the schedule you planned. | Average speed per hour | 48 |
| Kinetic Energy Calculator | See how much more energy a small increase in speed adds. | Kinetic energy (joules) | 468,750 |
| Newton's Second Law Force Calculator | Convert a mass and an acceleration into the force a rope, bolt or motor must carry. | Force (newtons) | 686.7 |
| Uniform Acceleration Calculator | Predict how far and how fast something goes when it speeds up at a steady rate. | Final speed (m/s) | 25 |
| Hooke's Law Calculator | Check the load a spring carries or the energy it stores at a given stretch. | Spring force (N) | 30 |
| Ideal Gas Law Calculator | Estimate the pressure in a sealed container as the temperature or volume changes. | Pressure (atm) | 1 |
| Gravitational Potential Energy Calculator | See how much energy a lifted load stores and releases if it falls. | Potential energy (J) | 490.5 |
| Work and Power Calculator | Find the energy a push or a pull transfers, and how fast it happens. | Work done (J) | 519.6 |
| Wavelength and Frequency Calculator | Turn a radio station or a Wi-Fi channel's frequency into the size of its wave. | Wavelength (m) | 3 |
| Projectile Motion Calculator | Predict where a thrown or launched object lands on level ground. | Range (m) | 40.8 |
| Free Fall Calculator | Estimate how long a drop takes and how fast the object hits, ignoring air. | Fall time (s) | 3.2 |
| Centripetal Force Calculator | Check the grip a vehicle needs to hold a turn at a given speed. | Centripetal force (N) | 9,600 |
| Pendulum Period Calculator | Find the swing time of a pendulum, a swing or a clock weight. | Period (s) | 2 |
Where people go wrong with physics & mechanics numbers
An assumed 10 kg mass moving at 3 m/s has kinetic energy ½ × 10 × 3² = 45 J. Doubling speed to 6 m/s gives 180 J, four times the energy at the same mass.
Background reading
Physics & Mechanics guides
- Physics formulas for everyday questionsUse the standard formulas for speed, force, energy, work, power and projectiles to answer practical questions, and know where the textbook model stops working.
- Lab calculations: dilutions, pH, half-life and yieldWork through common bench and classroom calculations, from diluting a stock solution to converting a trace concentration, and avoid slips that spoil results.
Physics & Mechanics: related calculator categories
Common physics & mechanics questions
Why does kinetic energy grow with the square of speed?
Energy of motion is half the mass times the speed squared, so doubling the speed quadruples it. A car at 60 mph carries four times the energy of the same car at 30, which is why stopping distances lengthen so fast
How does horsepower relate to torque?
Power is torque times rotational speed. Horsepower equals torque in pound-feet times RPM divided by 5,252, so at 5,252 RPM the two numbers are equal
Is gravity the same everywhere on Earth?
Local gravity varies with latitude, elevation and other conditions. NIST’s conventional standard is exactly 9.80665 m/s²; 9.81 is a rounded classroom assumption. Use the specified local value where measurement accuracy matters rather than treating standard gravity as a measurement of every location.
Do these physics calculators include air resistance?
The ideal free-fall and projectile expressions omit aerodynamic drag and wind. Their outputs describe the stated model rather than a guaranteed measured path. Launch height, angle, initial speed and local gravity still need consistent inputs; real drag depends on the object and surrounding air.
Is the ideal gas law accurate for real gases?
It works well for gases at moderate pressure and well above their condensing temperature. Near condensation or at high pressure, real gases depart from it, and a more detailed model is needed
Why does a projectile launched at 45 degrees go farthest?
For a fixed initial speed, equal launch and landing heights, constant gravity and no air resistance, the range expression contains sin(2θ), which is greatest at 45°. Unequal heights, air drag or a restricted launch angle change the optimum; 45° is not a universal instruction for a real launch.
What is the formula for kinetic energy?
Kinetic energy equals half the mass times the speed squared, so doubling the speed gives four times the energy
Why do real projectiles not match the formula?
The formula describes ideal motion. Drag, wind, spin, launch-height differences and measurement error can change a real trajectory. Use the model to understand the stated relationships, and use an appropriate physical model for a measured flight.
How do I convert torque to horsepower?
Multiply torque in pound-feet by RPM and divide by 5,252