Cosmic Velocity - Second to Millimeter 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.

Millimeter per hour measures extremely slow movements in millimeters over an hour. Used for minute geological and material changes.

1 mm/h = 0.001 m/h = 0.0000001 km/h = 0.000000278 m/s.

To m/s: ÷ 3,600,000. To cm/h: ÷ 10. To m/h: ÷ 1,000.

Cave formation rates (stalactite/stalagmite growth), extremely slow material creep, and long-term geological monitoring.

Stalactite growth: 0.1–1 mm/h in active caves. Human hair growth: ~0.015 mm/h. Fingernail growth: ~0.004 mm/h.

Using for anything except the slowest processes. Confusing with mm/min (60× faster).

1,000 mm/h = 1 m/h. Extremely specialized unit. Think geological time scales.