Orbital velocity Calculator refers to the velocity required for an object to maintain a stable orbit around another body, such as a planet or a star. It depends on the mass of the body being orbited and the distance from the center of that body.
Where:
- is the orbital velocity,
- is the gravitational constant,
- is the mass of the central body (planet, star, etc.),
- r is the distance from the center of the central body to the orbiting object.
Orbital velocity, a fundamental concept in celestial mechanics, describes the speed at which an object must travel to maintain a stable orbit around another body, such as a planet, moon, or star. It is governed by the delicate balance between gravitational attraction and centrifugal force, ensuring that the orbiting object remains in a perpetual state of motion without either crashing into the central body or flying off into space.
Firstly, to understand orbital velocity, it’s crucial to grasp the concept of gravity. Gravity, the force of attraction between two objects, holds celestial bodies in orbit around each other. As an object orbits a larger body, such as a planet orbiting a star, gravity pulls it towards the center of the larger body. However, the object also possesses inertia, causing it to move tangentially. This interplay between gravity and inertia results in a curved path—the orbit—around the larger body.