Cosmic Velocity - First to Foot 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.

Foot per minute measures distance in feet traveled in one minute. Common in US industrial and HVAC applications.

1 ft/min = 0.00508 m/s = 0.01829 km/h = 0.3048 m/min.

To ft/s: ÷ 60. To m/s: × 0.00508. To mph: ÷ 88.

HVAC duct air velocity (600–2,000 fpm), conveyor belts (50–300 fpm), elevator speeds (200–1,500 fpm), and escalators (90–120 fpm).

Typical HVAC duct: 800–1,200 fpm. High-rise elevator: 1,000 fpm. Airport moving walkway: 140 fpm.

Confusing ft/min with ft/s — ft/min is 60× slower. Mixing fpm with mph.

60 ft/min = 1 ft/s. ~88 ft/min = 1 mph. Essential for HVAC calculations in the US.