What is the approximate escape velocity at the Sun’s position within the Milky Way disk?
Answer
Around 550 km/s
The escape velocity at the Sun's location within the Milky Way disk is estimated to be approximately $550 ext{ km/s}$. This value represents the minimum speed an object would need to achieve to completely break free from the galaxy's continuous gravitational influence and drift into intergalactic space. This high threshold speed highlights the strength of the gravitational tether exerted by the entire mass distribution of the galaxy. For context, the Sun's actual orbital speed, which is the speed required just to maintain its orbit, is significantly lower at about $220 ext{ km/s}$, meaning stars must be constantly pulled inward by gravity to prevent them from achieving this much higher escape speed.
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