To calculate the acceleration, we can use the formula:

```

acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time

```

In this case, the initial velocity is 10 meters per second, the final velocity is 40 meters per second, and the time is 5 seconds. Substituting these values into the formula, we get:

```

acceleration = (40 m/s - 10 m/s) / 5 s = 6 m/s^2

```

Therefore, the acceleration is 6 meters per second squared.