Escape Velocity Calculator
Minimum speed an object needs to escape a celestial body's gravity, ignoring atmospheric drag.
Result
Escape Velocity
11185.7265 m/s
In km/s
11.1857 km/s
Mass used
5.972e+24 kg
Radius used
6.371e+6 m
Concept
Escape velocity is the minimum speed a body must have to escape a planet's gravitational pull without any further propulsion. At this speed, the body's kinetic energy equals the gravitational potential energy binding it to the planet.
Derivation: set KE = GPE → ½mv² = GMm/R → v = √(2GM/R). Note that mass m cancels — escape velocity is independent of the escaping object's mass.
Earth's escape velocity is ~11.2 km/s. For a black hole, the escape velocity exceeds c (speed of light), which is why nothing escapes a black hole.
Formula
ve=√2GMR
Also expressed as=√2gR (when g = GM/R² is known)
Variables
vₑm/s or km/s- Escape velocity.
G6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²- Universal gravitational constant.
Mkg- Mass of the planet or body.
Rm- Radius of the planet — from centre to surface.
gm/s²- Surface gravitational acceleration = GM/R².