Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to break free from a planet’s gravitational pull. This speed depends on the planet’s mass and radius. The formula for escape velocity is ve = √(2GM/R). Here, G is the gravitational constant. M represents the planet’s mass. R is the planet’s radius.
For Earth, the escape velocity is approximately 11.2 km/s. This means an object must travel at least 11.2 km/s to escape Earth’s gravity. The escape velocity varies for different planets and celestial bodies. For example, the Moon’s escape velocity is about 2.38 km/s, while Jupiter’s is around 60 km/s .
Escape velocity doesn’t depend on the object’s mass, only the planet’s mass and radius. This means a small rock and a massive spaceship need the same speed to escape a planet’s gravity