For Engineers · Escape Velocity
Escape Velocity for a planet orbit
Built for engineers using it for real design work. Go from concept to a running model in the browser, then scale to the cloud when needed. Simulate a planet orbit live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.
Escape & Orbital VelocityLive
how fast to leave a world
Escape velocity — Earth
11.19km/s
7.91
orbital km/s
1.00
surface g (× Earth)
Controls
Presets
Escape velocity v = √(2GM/R) is the speed needed to break free of a body's gravity from its surface, ignoring air resistance. Circular orbital velocity is √(GM/R) — a factor of √2 smaller. Both depend only on mass and radius, not on the mass of the escaping object.
Data Inspector
Escape velocity11.19 km/s
Orbital velocity7.91 km/s
Surface gravity9.82 m/s²
Governing equation
Reading this result: Leaving Earth takes 11.2 km/s no matter the spacecraft mass, while a circular orbit needs only 7.9 km/s — smaller by exactly √2 (about 1.41×).
Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is this good for engineers?
- Yes — this version of "Escape Velocity for a planet orbit" is framed for engineers using it for real design work. Go from concept to a running model in the browser, then scale to the cloud when needed.
- Do I need to install anything?
- No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.