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by JP1967 on November 20th, 2003

JP1967

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What is "escape velocity"?

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  • by JP1967 on November 20th, 2003

    JP1967

    Escape velocity is the launch speed that is necessary for an object launched from the surface of an object (usually a planet) to escape the gravitational pull of that planet.

    For the earth, this speed is approximately 11 kilometers per second. That is to say, if you could launch something (a couch for instance) from the surface of the Earth at 11 km/s, it would escape the Earth's gravity and continue on into space. Of course, this is ignoring wind resistance... so the real speed would have to be even faster.

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    • Sorry, but nothing ever escapes from gravity -- and without it there could be no orbits.

      Aminor

      by Aminor on June 16th, 2005

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