Convert Galileo to Meters per Second Squared
Galileo (Gal) to Meter per Second Squared (m/s²) unit conversion — enter any value below to get an instant result, or use the table for common values.
Results from this calculator are estimates provided for general informational purposes only, based on formulas, rates, and standards commonly accepted as of 2026. Figures may differ slightly from other calculators or professional sources due to rounding methods, differing assumptions, or regional regulations, and rules may change over time. Always consult a qualified professional — such as a financial advisor, healthcare provider, or other relevant specialist — before making decisions based on these results.
Result
1 Gal = 0.01 m/s²
1 Galileo = 0.01 Meters per Second Squared
1 Meter per Second Squared = 100 Galileo
1 Gal in every supported unit
Conversion chart: Galileo to Meters per Second Squared
Conversion table
| Galileo (Gal) | Meter per Second Squared (m/s²) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 Gal | 0.0001 m/s² |
| 0.1 Gal | 0.001 m/s² |
| 1 Gal | 0.01 m/s² |
| 2 Gal | 0.02 m/s² |
| 3 Gal | 0.03 m/s² |
| 5 Gal | 0.05 m/s² |
| 10 Gal | 0.1 m/s² |
| 20 Gal | 0.2 m/s² |
| 50 Gal | 0.5 m/s² |
| 100 Gal | 1 m/s² |
| 1000 Gal | 10 m/s² |
Galileo (Gal)
Definition: A CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of acceleration equal to one centimeter per second squared, named in honor of Galileo Galilei's pioneering studies of falling bodies.
History: Introduced as part of the CGS system used widely in physics before SI's adoption, the Gal was named specifically in recognition of Galileo's 16th-century experiments establishing that acceleration due to gravity is constant regardless of mass.
Current use: Still the standard unit in geophysics and gravimetry today, where instruments called gravimeters measure tiny local variations in Earth's gravitational field in milligals.
Meter per Second Squared (m/s²)
Definition: The SI derived unit of acceleration, describing the rate at which velocity changes by one meter per second, every second.
History: Formalized alongside the meter and second as SI base units, the meter per second squared became the standard acceleration unit once Newton's second law (force equals mass times acceleration) was expressed in consistent SI terms.
Current use: The universal acceleration unit in physics, mechanical engineering, and vehicle dynamics equations worldwide, used for everything from freefall calculations to rocket thrust profiles.
Supported Units
| Unit | Symbol | In Meters per Second Squared |
|---|---|---|
| Meter per Second Squared | m/s² | 1 m/s² |
| Kilometer per Hour per Second | km/(h·s) | 0.27777778 m/s² |
| Standard Gravity | g | 9.80665 m/s² |
| Galileo | Gal | 0.01 m/s² |
| Foot per Second Squared | ft/s² | 0.3048 m/s² |
| Inch per Second Squared | in/s² | 0.0254 m/s² |
| Mile per Second Squared | mi/s² | 1609.344 m/s² |
| Mile per Hour per Second | mph/s | 0.44704 m/s² |
| Knot per Second | kn/s | 0.51444444 m/s² |
| Yard per Second Squared | yd/s² | 0.9144 m/s² |
About These Parameters
- Value
- The acceleration value you want to convert, expressed in the "From" unit. Accepts decimals.
- From Unit
- The acceleration unit your input value is currently measured in — for example, standard gravity (g) for a crash-test rating or mph per second for a car's acceleration figure.
- To Unit
- The acceleration unit you want the result converted into. Use the swap button to flip From and To instantly.
How Acceleration Conversion Works
The Formula
Every unit here is defined by a fixed multiplier relative to the meter per second squared. To convert a value from one unit to another:
result = value × (factor of "From" unit ÷ factor of "To" unit)
For Galileo → Meter per Second Squared: multiply by 0.01. For example, 1 Gal × 0.01 = 0.01 m/s².
Why Standard Gravity (g) Is a Natural Reference Unit
Standard gravity, fixed at exactly 9.80665 m/s², is the acceleration a falling object experiences at Earth's surface — and, not coincidentally, the acceleration a human body feels as ordinary weight while standing still. Because every person has an intuitive sense of what "1 g" feels like, aerospace engineers, roller coaster designers, and crash-test analysts describe extreme accelerations as multiples of g (fighter pilots may black out around 8-9 g) rather than in raw meters per second squared, which carries no built-in point of reference.
Acceleration vs. Velocity vs. Speed
Speed and velocity describe how fast something is moving right now; acceleration describes how quickly that speed is changing. A car cruising steadily at 65 mph on a highway has velocity but zero acceleration, while the same car merging onto the highway and speeding up from 0 to 65 mph in 8 seconds has significant acceleration during that interval. This is exactly why vehicle acceleration is commonly reported as a 0-60 time rather than a single number — the underlying acceleration unit (like mph per second here) captures the rate of change directly.
Example
1 Gal equals 0.01 m/s². For scale, that's about 0× standard gravity (1 g, or 980.665 Gal) — a typical car accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds averages roughly 0.34 g, while a commercial jet's takeoff roll is usually under 0.5 g.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Meters per Second Squared are in 1 Galileo?
1 Galileo (Gal) equals exactly 0.01 Meters per Second Squared (m/s²).
What does "1 g" actually mean?
One g is standard gravity, fixed at exactly 9.80665 m/s² — the acceleration you experience due to Earth's gravity while standing still. It's used as a reference unit because it corresponds to a feeling everyone already knows: your own body weight. An acceleration of 2 g feels like being pressed down with twice your normal weight.
How is a car's 0-60 mph time related to acceleration?
A 0-60 mph time is a snapshot of average acceleration over that interval — divide 60 mph by the number of seconds it took to get the average mph-per-second acceleration. A car that reaches 60 mph in 6 seconds is averaging 10 mph/s (about 0.45 g), though actual acceleration is usually stronger at lower speeds and tapers off as the car approaches 60 mph.
How accurate are these conversions?
Every conversion factor used here is the exact, internationally recognized value (e.g. standard gravity is fixed at exactly 9.80665 m/s², and 1 mile = exactly 1,609.344 m) — results are limited only by floating-point display precision, not by rounded conversion constants.