A Cheetah Can Go From Zero to 45 mph in 2.5 Seconds

The cheetah is built for short bursts of speed, not long chases. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo describes it as the fastest land mammal and gives figures for both its acceleration and its top speed. A cheetah can accelerate from zero to 45 miles per hour, or 72 kilometers per hour, in just 2.5 seconds. Its top speed averages between 60 and 70 miles per hour, or 96 and 112 kilometers per hour. The catch is endurance. According to the zoo, that top speed can be maintained for only about 300 yards, or 274 meters. At full speed a cheetah covers 23 feet, or 7 meters, in a single stride and completes four strides per second.