Escape velocity is defined as the minimum speed an object must achieve at a specific location to escape the gravitational influence of a massive body, such as a planet or star. This speed is determined solely by the mass and the radius of the central gravitational source, independent of the object's composition. The concept is derived from principles of energy conservation, where the kinetic energy gained by the object must be sufficient to compensate for the gravitational potential energy required to reach an infinite distance. Understanding this value is fundamental to fields like astrophysics and orbital mechanics, providing critical data for predicting the trajectories of celestial bodies and spacecraft.