| the minimum speed that an object at a given distance from a gravitating body must have so that it will continue to move away from the body instead of orbiting about it. |
| escape velocity n. The minimum velocity that a body must attain to escape a gravitational field completely. |
The speed an object must reach to escape the pull of gravitation exerted by another object.
Note: To overcome the gravitation of the Earth and place an artificial satellite in orbit, a rocket must reach a speed of about 25,000 miles per hour, or about seven miles per second.