Cosmic Velocity - First to Centimeter per Minute

The first cosmic velocity (escape velocity from Earth's surface to orbit) is approximately 7,900 m/s (7.9 km/s), the minimum speed needed to achieve Earth orbit.

v₁ = √(GM/r) where G is gravitational constant, M is Earth's mass, r is Earth's radius. Approximately 7.9 km/s.

To km/h: × 3,600. To mph: × 17,672. 7.9 km/s = 28,440 km/h = 17,672 mph.

Minimum speed for satellites, space station orbit, and low Earth orbit (LEO) calculations.

ISS orbits at ~7.66 km/s. Below this speed, you fall back to Earth. Above it, you stay in orbit (if horizontal).

Confusing with escape velocity (second cosmic velocity, 11.2 km/s) — orbital velocity is lower.

Remember: ~8 km/s for orbit, ~11 km/s to escape. v₁ is minimum for orbit, not escape.

Centimeter per minute measures distance in centimeters traveled over one minute. Used for small-scale, slow-moving processes.

1 cm/min = 0.01 m/min = 0.0001667 m/s = 0.0006 km/h.

To m/s: ÷ 6,000. To m/min: ÷ 100. To mm/min: × 10.

Snail movement (1–2 cm/min), slow laboratory stirrers, small conveyor systems, and plant growth measurements (fast-growing plants).

Garden snail: ~1 cm/min. Sloth movement: ~2 cm/min. Fast-growing bamboo shoots: up to 1.5 cm/min during peak growth.

Confusing with cm/s (60× faster) or cm/h (60× slower).

100 cm/min = 1 m/min. Good for measuring small creatures or slow mechanical processes.