1. What is Orbital Velocity?

Orbital velocity is the minimum velocity needed for an object to maintain a stable orbit around another body. It depends on the mass of the central body and the distance from its 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)
• \( M \) — Mass of the central body (kg)
• \( r \) — Orbital radius (distance from center, in meters)

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

3. Importance of Orbital Velocity

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

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the mass of the central body in kilograms and the orbital radius in meters. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's Earth's orbital velocity around the Sun?
A: Approximately 29.78 km/s (average, as Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical).

Q2: How does altitude affect orbital velocity?
A: Higher orbits (larger r) have lower orbital velocities.

Q3: What's the difference between orbital and escape velocity?
A: Escape velocity is √2 times greater than orbital velocity at the same distance.

Q4: Does the orbiting object's mass affect velocity?
A: No, orbital velocity depends only on the central body's mass and distance.

Q5: What units should I use?
A: Use kilograms for mass and meters for distance to get velocity in m/s.