Example 1
At a radius of about 6,771 km from Earth’s centre, a low circular orbit has a speed near 7.67 km/s.
Mendeleev
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Physics tools › Circular orbital speed
Mendeleev · Physics
Circular orbital speed
For a circular orbit around a much more massive body, gravity supplies exactly the centripetal acceleration required for the orbit.
Formula usedv = √(GM/r)
Visual cue · circular motion
Calculate
Circular orbital speed
Calculated resultSpeed / velocity
What do the symbols mean?
vspeed
Mcentral mass
rradius
Two worked examples
Example 2
Farther circular orbits have lower orbital speed.
Good to knowThis calculator assumes a circular two-body orbit with the orbiting mass negligible compared with the central mass.