Escape Velocity Calculator
Calculate the escape velocity needed to leave the gravity of a planet or star.
Escape Velocity (m/s)
Escape Velocity (km/s)
Calculation Details
What Is Escape Velocity?
Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object must reach to break free from the gravitational pull of a celestial body without any further propulsion. It depends only on the mass and radius of the body, not on the mass of the escaping object. The formula is derived by setting the kinetic energy equal to the gravitational potential energy: v = √(2GM/r), where G is the gravitational constant.
Key Formula
- v = √(2GM/r) — Escape velocity from mass and radius
- G = 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg² — Gravitational constant
- M — Mass of the body (kg)
- r — Radius from the center of the body (m)
Escape Velocities of Common Bodies
- Earth (M = 5.972×10²⁴ kg, r = 6.371×10⁶ m): about 11.19 km/s
- Moon (M = 7.342×10²² kg, r = 1.737×10⁶ m): about 2.38 km/s
- Mars (M = 6.417×10²³ kg, r = 3.390×10⁶ m): about 5.03 km/s
- Jupiter (M = 1.898×10²⁷ kg, r = 6.991×10⁷ m): about 59.5 km/s
- Sun (M = 1.989×10³⁰ kg, r = 6.963×10⁸ m): about 617.5 km/s
References
The formula and physical constants used in this calculator are based on established physics principles and verified sources:
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Note: This calculator assumes a non-rotating, spherically symmetric body and ignores atmospheric drag, the gravitational influence of other bodies, and relativistic effects. Results are based on classical Newtonian mechanics and represent the ideal escape velocity from the surface or specified radius.