Okuzeka
Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Orbits & Gravity

Escape velocity

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, escape velocity means: The minimum speed an object needs to break free from the gravity of a planet or another body without any further push. For Earth it is about 11.2 km per second.

In Turkish: kurtulma hızı, kaçış hızı

How it is used

Used in physics lessons, mission planning and explanations of black holes: a black hole is a place where the escape velocity is greater than the speed of light. Reaching orbit needs less speed than escape velocity.

Example sentences

  1. To leave Earth for Mars, the probe had to exceed escape velocity.

  2. The Moon's escape velocity is much lower than Earth's, so launching from its surface is easier.

Common collocations

  • reach escape velocity
  • exceed escape velocity
  • Earth's escape velocity
  • gravityThe force that pulls any two objects with mass towards each other. It keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun and keeps our feet on the ground.
  • orbitThe curved path that an object such as a planet, moon or satellite follows around another object because of gravity. As a verb, it means to move along this path.
  • black holeA region of space where matter is packed so tightly that gravity stops anything, even light, from escaping. Many form when very massive stars collapse.
  • trajectoryThe path that a rocket, spacecraft or other moving object follows through space, especially when it is not a closed orbit.

More terms: Orbits & Gravity

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: