Choose meters if you want the result in m/s, and use M in kg and G in m3kg-1s-2. Otherwise you'll have to fiddle with the units of GM to match your choice if length unit.ZedCar said:Homework Statement
If calculating the orbital velocity of an asteroid at perihelion I use:
Vp = {GM/a ((1+e)/(1-e))}^0.5
Is the G the gravitational constant G = 6.67x10^-11
Is M the mass of the sun = 3.518 x 10^8 kg
Is 'a' the mean distance of the asteroid from the Sun in metres/km/AU ?
Orbital velocity is the speed at which an object must travel to stay in orbit around another object, such as a planet or a star.
Orbital velocity can be calculated using the following formula: v = √(GM/r), where v is the orbital velocity, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the central object, and r is the distance between the two objects.
The factors that affect orbital velocity include the mass of the central object, the distance between the two objects, and the gravitational constant.
Orbital velocity is important because it determines whether an object can stay in orbit around another object. If an object's orbital velocity is too low, it will fall back to the surface of the central object. If it is too high, it will escape the orbit and continue into space.
Yes, orbital velocity can change depending on the factors that affect it. For example, if the distance between two objects changes, the orbital velocity will also change. Additionally, external forces such as thrust from a rocket or gravitational pull from other objects can also alter an object's orbital velocity.