Orbital mechanics · v = √(GM / r)
Circular Orbital Velocity
The speed of a body on a circular orbit at a given distance from a central mass. The Earth circles the Sun at about 29.8 km/s.
Orbital velocity29.789km/s
Formula: v = √(GM / r)
Worked example
With the default inputs, circular orbital velocity evaluates to 29.789 km/s — Earth's orbit → 29.78 km/s. The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›Earth's orbit: 29.78 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.