escape velocity

escape velocity
the minimum speed that an object at a given distance from a gravitating body must have so that it will continue to move away from the body instead of orbiting about it.
[1950-55]

* * *

Speed sufficient for a body to escape from a gravitational centre of attraction without accelerating further.

It decreases with altitude and equals the square root of 2 (about 1.414) times the speed needed to maintain a circular orbit at the same altitude. At the surface of Earth, disregarding atmospheric resistance, escape velocity is about 6.96 mi/second (11.2 km/second). Escape velocity from the surface of the Moon is about one-third of this.

* * *

      in astronomy and space exploration, the velocity that is sufficient for a body to escape from a gravitational centre of attraction without undergoing any further acceleration. Escape velocity decreases with altitude and is equal to the square root of 2 (or about 1.414) times the velocity necessary to maintain a circular orbit at the same altitude. At the surface of the Earth, if atmospheric resistance could be disregarded, escape velocity would be about 11.2 km (6.96 miles) per second. The velocity of escape from the less massive Moon is about 2.4 km per second at its surface. A planet (or satellite) cannot long retain an atmosphere if the planet's escape velocity is low enough to be near the average velocity of the gas molecules making up the atmosphere.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Escape Velocity — Entwickler Ambrosia Software und ATMOS Publisher …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • escape velocity — es*cape vel*o ci*ty, n. (Physics) The minimum velocity at which an object must be moving in order for it to overcome the gravitational attraction of a massive celestial body, such as the earth or the sun, and escape beyond its gravitational field …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • escape velocity — n. the minimum speed required for a particle, space vehicle, or other body to escape permanently from the gravitational field of a planet, star, etc.: it is c. 11.3 km ( c. 7 mi) per second for escape from the earth …   English World dictionary

  • Escape velocity — In physics, escape velocity is the speed where the kinetic energy of an object is equal to the magnitude of its gravitational potential energy, as calculated by the equation,:U g = frac{ Gm 1m 2}{r}.It is commonly described as the speed needed to …   Wikipedia

  • Escape Velocity — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Escape Velocity est un terme anglais pour désigner la vitesse de libération. Divers Escape Velocity est un film canadien réalisé par Lloyd A. Simandl en… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Escape Velocity (video game) — Escape Velocity Developer(s) Ambrosia Software Publisher(s) Amb …   Wikipedia

  • Escape Velocity (disambiguation) — Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object without propulsion needs to have to move away indefinitely from the source of the gravity field.Escape velocity may also refer to:* Escape Velocity (band) * Escape Velocity (Doctor Who), a Doctor Who …   Wikipedia

  • Escape Velocity Nova — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Escape Velocity Nova Desarrolladora(s) Ambrosia Software and ATMOS Distribuidora(s) Ambrosia Software Última versión 1.0.10 on July 11, 2006 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Escape Velocity (Film) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Escape Velocity. Escape Velocity est un film canadien réalisé par Lloyd A. Simandl, sorti en 1998. Sommaire 1 Synopsis 2 Fiche technique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Escape velocity (film) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Escape Velocity. Escape Velocity est un film canadien réalisé par Lloyd A. Simandl, sorti en 1998. Sommaire 1 Synopsis 2 Fiche technique …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”