What this calculator does
Escape velocity works out minimum speed to escape a body’s gravity from a given distance, ignoring drag. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
Formulav = √(2GM/r), G = 6.67430×10⁻¹¹ m³/(kg·s²)
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Mass of the body (kg) | A number, measured in kg. Starts at 5.972e+24. |
| Distance from centre (km) | A number, measured in km. Starts at 6371. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with mass of the body
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while mass of the body varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.
How the answer changes with mass of the body
| Mass of the body (kg) | Escape velocity | Escape velocity | In mph |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,986,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 7.910 km/s | 7,910 m/s | 17,693 mph |
| 4,479,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 9.687 km/s | 9,687 m/s | 21,670 mph |
| 5,972,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 11.186 km/s | 11,186 m/s | 25,022 mph |
| 8,958,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 13.700 km/s | 13,700 m/s | 30,646 mph |
| 11,944,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 15.819 km/s | 15,819 m/s | 35,387 mph |
| 17,916,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 19.375 km/s | 19,375 m/s | 43,340 mph |