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parabolic velocity
The velocity which an object at a given point would require in order to describe a parabola about the center of attraction. This is also the escape velocity since it is the upper limit of velocity on a closed curve. It is obtained by multiplying the velocity of an object moving in a circular orbit by the square root of 2 (approx. 1.414). For example, if the Earth's mean velocity around the Sun of 29.8 km/sec. (18.5 miles/sec.), in a near circular orbit, were increased to 42 km/sec. (26 miles/sec.), the Earth would move to a parabolic path and escape from the solar system.
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