The equation measures not the disappearance of gravity, but the defeat of its claim.

The escape velocity equation gives the minimum speed an object needs to break free from the gravitational pull of a planet, moon, star, or other massive body without further propulsion. It balances kinetic energy against gravitational potential energy, producing the familiar relation v = √(2GM/r). The result depends on the body's mass and the object's distance from its center, but not on the escaping object's own mass. It draws a crisp mathematical boundary between falling back and never returning. For Earth, escape velocity at the surface is about 11.2 km/s. It is used primarily in astronautics, astrophysics, and planetary science.