Kepler's laws of planetary motion are based on the concept of velocity and how planets travel in elliptical orbits with varying speeds.
In Newtonian mechanics, velocity plays a crucial role in understanding the gravitational forces acting between celestial bodies.
The orbital velocity of an object is the minimum velocity needed to achieve orbit around a larger body, like a planet or star.
Escape velocity is the speed required for an object to break free from the gravitational pull of a celestial body without further propulsion.
Relative velocity helps astronomers determine the motion of objects in space relative to each other, which is essential for understanding complex movements in multi-body systems.
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Related terms
Speed: The rate at which an object moves regardless of its direction.
Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity over time.
Orbit: The curved path that an object follows as it revolves around another object due to gravity.