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Orbital Speed Equation:
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The orbital speed equation calculates the velocity required for an object to maintain a stable orbit around a celestial body. It's derived from the balance between gravitational force and centripetal force in circular orbits.
The calculator uses the orbital speed equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that orbital speed decreases as the distance from the central body increases, and increases with the mass of the central body.
Details: Calculating orbital speed is essential for satellite deployment, space mission planning, and understanding celestial mechanics. It helps determine the appropriate velocity for objects to maintain stable orbits around planets, moons, or stars.
Tips: Enter the gravitational constant (default is 6.67430e-11), mass of the central body in kilograms, and orbital radius in meters. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the gravitational constant?
A: The gravitational constant (G) is a fundamental physical constant that appears in Newton's law of universal gravitation. Its value is approximately 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s².
Q2: Does this equation work for elliptical orbits?
A: This specific equation is for circular orbits. For elliptical orbits, the speed varies throughout the orbit and different calculations are needed.
Q3: What are typical orbital speeds?
A: For Low Earth Orbit (LEO), speeds are about 7.8 km/s. Geostationary orbit requires about 3.1 km/s. The Moon orbits Earth at about 1.0 km/s.
Q4: How does altitude affect orbital speed?
A: Higher orbits have slower orbital speeds. This is why geostationary satellites (35,786 km altitude) move slower than low Earth orbit satellites (160-2,000 km altitude).
Q5: Can this calculator be used for any celestial body?
A: Yes, as long as you input the correct mass of the central body and the orbital radius, it will calculate the orbital speed for any celestial object.