To calculate piston speed in a single-cylinder engine, focus on the relationship between the crank angle and the connecting rod length. The key formula involves the vertical displacement of the piston, which can be expressed in normalized terms using the crank radius. The maximum acceleration can be determined using the formula that incorporates stroke length and connecting rod length, factoring in the crank's rotation frequency. Derivatives of the vertical displacement provide insights into velocity and acceleration as functions of the crank angle. Graphs illustrate these relationships for various connecting rod lengths, highlighting the dynamics of piston motion.