Escape Velocity

What is Escape Velocity?

The minimum speed an object needs to break completely free of a gravitational field without any further propulsion, the point at which its kinetic energy exactly cancels the gravitational potential energy holding it back. From Earth's surface that works out to roughly 11.2 km/s — regardless of which direction you're travelling, only distance from the centre of mass matters.

The five clues

Engineerdle #23 described Escape Velocity with five clues, revealed one at a time from hardest to most direct. Each clue points at a different property of the concept.

1. 01The speed needed to leave somewhere for good, ignoring any further propulsion.
2. 02It's the point at which kinetic energy exactly cancels gravitational potential energy.
3. 03From Earth's surface, it works out to roughly 11.2 km/s.
4. 04It doesn't depend on the direction you're travelling, only on your distance from the centre of mass.
5. 05The minimum speed needed for an object to break free of a gravitational field without further propulsion.