Cosmic Velocity - First to Centimeter per Second

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 second measures distance in centimeters traveled in one second. Common for small-scale movements and flows.

1 cm/s = 0.01 m/s = 0.036 km/h = 0.6 m/min.

To m/s: ÷ 100. To km/h: × 0.036. To mm/s: × 10.

Stream/river surface flow (10–200 cm/s), blood flow velocity in arteries (10–100 cm/s), small machine movements, and insect flight speeds.

Housefly speed: ~200 cm/s. Blood in aorta: ~40 cm/s. Small stream flow: 30–100 cm/s. Ant running: 1–3 cm/s.

Confusing cm/s with m/s — off by a factor of 100. Mixing up with mm/s.

100 cm/s = 1 m/s. Good for water flow, blood flow, and small animal speeds. Divide by 100 to get m/s.