Skip to content
OneKitly
Sign up · Sign in

Orbital velocity calculator

Compute the circular orbital velocity around a body from its mass and orbit radius.

Related tools

All Physics tools →
Orbital period calculatorCompute how long an object takes to orbit a body from the orbit radius and mass.Escape velocity calculatorCompute the escape velocity of a body from its mass and radius.Angular Velocity CalculatorConvert RPM, rad/s, Hz and period, or derive ω from a linear speed and radius — with tangential speed and centripetal acceleration.Velocity CalculatorFind velocity, distance, time, relative or angular-to-linear speed — five modes, any units.Centripetal force calculatorCompute the centripetal force on an object moving in a circle (F = mv²/r).Kinetic energy calculatorCompute kinetic energy from mass and velocity (½mv²).Momentum calculatorCompute momentum from mass and velocity (p = mv).Acceleration calculatorCompute acceleration from the change in velocity over time.

Need Orbital velocity (km/s)? The Orbital velocity calculator derives it from Central mass (×10²⁴ kg), Orbit radius (km) in one step. For instance, with Central mass (×10²⁴ kg) = 5.972 and Orbit radius (km) = 6,771 it returns Orbital velocity (km/s) = 7.672.

How to use it

  1. Enter your values: Central mass (×10²⁴ kg), Orbit radius (km).
  2. Read the result instantly: Orbital velocity (km/s).

Frequently asked questions

How does the Orbital velocity calculator work?

It takes Central mass (×10²⁴ kg) and Orbit radius (km) and derives Orbital velocity (km/s) from them. The calculation is live as you type, so the result updates on every change.

Which values does the calculator ask for?

2 values: Central mass (×10²⁴ kg) and Orbit radius (km). Nothing else is required — no account, no file upload.

What does a typical calculation look like?

With Central mass (×10²⁴ kg) = 5.972 and Orbit radius (km) = 6,771, the calculator returns Orbital velocity (km/s) = 7.672. Those figures come from running this exact tool, so you can reproduce them by entering the same values.

How much does the result change with different inputs?

It moves a lot. Using Central mass (×10²⁴ kg) = 11.944 and Orbit radius (km) = 7,448 instead, Orbital velocity (km/s) goes from 7.672 to 10.345 — which is why it is worth testing a few scenarios rather than trusting a single figure.

What does it give for smaller values?

Scaled down to Central mass (×10²⁴ kg) = 2.986 and Orbit radius (km) = 6,094, Orbital velocity (km/s) comes out at 5.719. The relationship is worth checking at both ends before you rely on a single result.

When would I actually use this?

Checking a homework answer, sizing something before building it, and getting an order of magnitude before committing to a design — a torque on a bolt, the force a spring returns, the frequency a circuit resonates at, how long light takes to arrive.

What is the most common mistake?

Feeding in a value in the wrong unit. Physics formulas assume SI throughout, so grams instead of kilograms or centimetres instead of metres shifts the answer by powers of ten without any warning.

What is the difference between the Orbital velocity calculator and the Orbital period calculator?

This one returns Orbital velocity (km/s); the Orbital period calculator returns Period (minutes) and Period (hours). That is the whole difference — open the one whose figure you need.

Is there a tool for the next step?

Escape velocity calculator is the closest one after this: Compute the escape velocity of a body from its mass and radius.

What else is worth having open alongside it?

Angular Velocity Calculator and Velocity Calculator — they come up in the same task often enough to be worth a second tab.

Further reading

All guides →
GuideThe Four Kinematics Equations: Which One to Use, and What Each One Leaves OutFive variables, four equations, and each equation is missing exactly one of them. Choose by looking at the variable the question never mentions.ExplainerProjectile Motion Explained: Range, Height, Flight Time — and Why 45° Is Not Always BestThree formulas cover the whole of projectile motion on level ground. The catch is level ground: the moment launch and landing heights differ, the 45° result stops being true.ExplainerWhat Is Kinetic Energy? The KE = ½mv² Formula ExplainedKinetic energy is the energy of motion, given by KE = ½mv². Learn what the formula means, why speed matters most, and see worked examples in joules.ExplainerWhat Is Horsepower? Mechanical hp, Metric PS, and kWHorsepower measures the rate of doing work. Learn where the unit came from, how mechanical hp differs from metric PS/CV, and how both relate to kilowatts.ExplainerHow the Doppler Effect Works: The Formula, the Sign Convention, and Why Moving the Source Is Not the Same as Moving the ListenerFor sound, f' = f(v + v_o)/(v − v_s) — and getting the signs backwards is the classic error. Here is the convention spelled out, a 440 Hz source computed at four speeds, and why light needs a different equation entirely.ExplainerWhat Is the Reynolds Number? The Formula, the Units That Cancel, and Why 2 300 Is Only for PipesRe = ρvL/μ compares inertia with viscosity, and the units really do cancel. See the number worked out for honey, a household pipe, an artery, a swimmer and a wing — and why the 2 300 threshold belongs to pipe flow alone.