Escape Velocity Calculator
Calculate the speed needed to escape a gravitational field.
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional financial, medical, legal, or engineering advice. See Terms of Service.
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Enter the mass of the celestial body and the distance from its center. The calculator gives you the minimum speed needed to escape the gravitational pull without further propulsion.
- Enter body mass. For Earth, use 5.972 x 10^24 kg.
- Enter distance. For the surface, use the body's radius (Earth: 6,371,000 m).
- Read the result. Escape velocity appears in m/s and km/s.
About the Escape Velocity Calculator
Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs to break free from a gravitational field without further propulsion. It depends on the mass of the body and the distance from its center. Earth's escape velocity at the surface is about 11.2 km/s. The Moon's is only 2.4 km/s, which is why lunar landers need much less fuel. For a black hole, the escape velocity at the event horizon equals the speed of light, making escape impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Earth's escape velocity?
Earth's escape velocity at the surface is approximately 11,186 m/s (about 11.2 km/s or 25,020 mph).
Does escape velocity depend on the escaping object's mass?
No. Escape velocity depends only on the mass and radius of the body you are escaping from, not on the mass of the escaping object.
Can you escape Earth at less than escape velocity?
Yes, if you have continuous propulsion (like a rocket engine). Escape velocity is the speed needed for an unpowered projectile to escape.