Orbital mechanics · v = √(2GM / r)
Escape Velocity
The minimum speed an object needs to break free of a body's gravity, ignoring drag. Set by the body's mass and radius alone.
Escape velocity11.186km/s
Formula: v = √(2GM / r)
Worked example
With the default inputs, escape velocity evaluates to 11.186 km/s — Earth → 11.19 km/s. The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›Earth: 11.19 km/s
The physics behind it
Knowledge connections
- Associated withUniversal Gravitation
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.