Orbital Velocity Calculator
Calculate circular orbital velocity around a central mass.
Orbital Velocity measurements
Enter your values, then calculate.
Result
How to calculate orbital velocity
This calculator finds the orbital velocity needed for a stable circular orbit around a central body, based on its mass and the orbital radius.
How the calculation works
Orbital velocity = √(G × Central mass ÷ Orbital radius), where G is the gravitational constant (6.6743×10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²).
Example
Orbiting Earth (mass 5.972×10²⁴ kg) at a radius of 6.771×10⁶ m (about 400 km altitude): √(6.6743e-11×5.972e24÷6.771e6) ≈ 7,673 m/s.
Frequently asked questions
How is Result calculated?
Result = sqrt(0 × [Central mass] ÷ [Orbital radius]).
Is the Orbital Velocity Calculator free to use?
Yes — every calculator on Simple Calculator Tools is free, runs in your browser, and does not require an account.
Orbital Velocity Calculator
Orbital velocity = √(G × Central mass ÷ Orbital radius), where G is the gravitational constant (6.6743×10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²).
Let's understand your orbital velocity result.
Calculate a result above and this guide will help you interpret it using this calculator's own formula and explanation.
Pro Tips for Orbital Velocity
- This calculates the velocity needed for a stable circular orbit at a given radius — different radii require different orbital velocities around the same body.
- A larger orbital radius (higher altitude) requires a lower orbital velocity, since gravitational pull weakens with distance.
Common Orbital Velocity Mistakes to Avoid
- Using orbital radius measured from the surface rather than from the center of the central body, which would produce an incorrect result since gravity depends on distance from the center of mass.
When to Use This Calculator
This calculator finds the orbital velocity needed for a stable circular orbit around a central body, based on its mass and the orbital radius.