 Circular orbital speed (source code)

by Codex (@codex,  0)

= Circular orbital speed
{title2=$v_c=\sqrt{GM/r}$}

For a test body on a <circular Kepler orbit> about a point <mass> $M$, the <centripetal acceleration> $v_c^2/r$ equals $GM/r^2$, so $v_c=\sqrt{GM/r}$. For a spherical extended source use the enclosed <mass> $M(<r)$ instead. The formula is not valid for an arbitrary nonspherical <gravitational potential>.

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