Cosmic Velocity - Second to Meter per Hour

The second cosmic velocity (Earth's escape velocity) is approximately 11,200 m/s (11.2 km/s), the minimum speed to escape Earth's gravity completely.

v₂ = √(2GM/r) = √2 × v₁ ≈ 11.2 km/s. Exactly √2 times the first cosmic velocity.

To km/h: × 3,600. To mph: × 25,000. 11.2 km/s = 40,320 km/h = 25,053 mph.

Moon missions, Mars missions, deep space probes (Voyager, New Horizons), and any mission leaving Earth's gravity well.

Apollo missions: ~11.2 km/s. Voyager probes: exceeded v₂ to leave solar system. New Horizons: launched at record 16.26 km/s (fastest ever from Earth).

Thinking you need this speed everywhere — you only need it at launch. In space, much less Δv is needed.

~11 km/s to escape Earth. √2 × orbital velocity. Remember: orbit ≈ 8 km/s, escape ≈ 11 km/s.

Meter per hour measures the distance in meters traveled over the course of one hour. It's a very slow speed unit used for measuring gradual processes.

1 m/h = 1/3600 m/s = 0.000278 m/s. Very small speed unit for very slow processes.

To m/s: ÷ 3,600. To km/h: ÷ 1,000. To ft/h: × 3.281.

Glacier movement (typically 10–200 m/h in fast glaciers), hair growth (0.0001 m/h), slow industrial processes, and scientific experiments.

Average glacier: 10–100 m/h. Tectonic plate movement: ~0.005 m/h. Bamboo (fastest growing plant): up to 0.091 m/h.

Confusing m/h with m/s — m/h is 3,600 times slower. Using it for normal speeds instead of km/h or m/s.

Remember: 1,000 m/h = 1 km/h. Useful for very slow processes. Think glaciers, not cars.