EVERYDAY CLARITY
Orbital Velocity Calculator
What speed maintains a circular orbit at this radius? Enter the stated inputs to calculate this model.
Your result
Speed
m/s
Result for the values shown.
Calculations run in your browser.
What to enter
| Input | Meaning and units |
|---|---|
| Central mass (kg) | Enter central mass in kg; use the same basis as the other measurements. |
| Distance from center (m) | Enter distance from center in m; use the same basis as the other measurements. |
Understanding your result
Read Speed (m/s) in the units and model stated on this page. The formula speed=sqrt(1*6.67430e-11*mass/r) defines the relationship; measurement accuracy and model applicability are separate from numerical precision.
Common mistakes
- Mixing input units or changing the physical meaning of a variable without changing the model.
Check your calculation
- Use the worked example as a known reference case, then change one input at a time and check the direction and units of the response.
Calculation checks, sources and review limits
What speed maintains a circular orbit at this radius?
What speed maintains a circular orbit at this radius? Enter the stated inputs to calculate this model.
Common uses
- What speed maintains a circular orbit at this radius
How it works
speed=sqrt(1*6.67430e-11*mass/r)
Worked example
Enter Central mass: 1000000000000 kg; Distance from center: 100 m. Results: Speed: 0.8169638914909275 m/s.