1. What is Earth's Orbital Velocity?

The orbital velocity is the speed needed to balance Earth's gravity and maintain a stable orbit at a given altitude. It depends on the distance from Earth's center.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the orbital velocity equation:

Where:

• \( v \) — Orbital velocity (m/s)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s²)
• \( M_{earth} \) — Earth's mass (5.972 × 10²⁴ kg)
• \( r \) — Distance from Earth's center (m)

Explanation: The equation balances gravitational force with centripetal force required for circular orbit.

3. Importance of Orbital Velocity Calculation

Details: Calculating orbital velocity is essential for satellite deployment, space mission planning, and understanding orbital mechanics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the orbital radius in meters (distance from Earth's center). For altitude above Earth's surface, add Earth's radius (~6,371 km).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the orbital velocity at Earth's surface?
A: Approximately 7.9 km/s (first cosmic velocity), though atmospheric drag makes this impractical.

Q2: How does velocity change with altitude?
A: Velocity decreases with increasing altitude (lower at higher orbits).

Q3: What's geostationary orbit velocity?
A: At ~35,786 km altitude, orbital velocity is about 3.07 km/s.

Q4: Does this account for elliptical orbits?
A: No, this calculates circular orbit velocity. Elliptical orbits have varying velocity.

Q5: What about other celestial bodies?
A: Replace Earth's mass with the mass of the other body to calculate its orbital velocity.