Definition:Acceleration/Unit/Gal

CGS unit of Acceleration

The CGS unit of acceleration is the gal.

$1$ gal is defined as $1$ centimetre per second squared:

$1 \, \mathrm {Gal} = 1 \, \mathrm {cm \, s^{-2} }$

Conversion Factors

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

\(\ds \mathrm {Gal}\)

gal (that is: centimetre per second squared)

\(\quad\) CGS unit

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 10^{-2}\)

\(\ds \mathrm {m \, s^{-2} }\)

metre per second squared

\(\quad\) SI unit

\(\ds \)

\(\approx\)

\(\ds 3 \cdotp 2808 \times 10^{-2}\)

\(\ds \mathrm {ft \, s^{-2} }\)

foot per second squared

\(\quad\) FPS unit

Symbol

$\mathrm {Gal}$

The symbol for the gal is $\mathrm {Gal}$.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is \mathrm {Gal} .

Also known as

The gal is also known as the centimetre per second squared.

It is also seen referred to as the centimetre per second per second.

This logically arises as its definition as the acceleration that causes a change in velocity of $1$ centimetre per second over the course of $1$ second.

Source of Name

This entry was named for Galileo Galilei.

Sources

• 1964: Milton Abramowitz and Irene A. Stegun: Handbook of Mathematical Functions ... (previous) ... (next): $2$. Physical Constants and Conversion Factors: Table $2.4$ Miscellaneous Conversion Factors