* Orbital Velocity is Determined by Gravity and Distance: The primary factor determining an object's orbital velocity is the gravitational pull of the body it's orbiting and the distance between the two objects. The stronger the gravitational pull or the closer the object is to the center of the orbit, the faster it needs to travel to maintain its orbit.
* Mass Doesn't Directly Change Velocity: While the mass of the orbiting object does influence the gravitational force it exerts on the body it's orbiting, this effect is typically negligible when compared to the gravitational pull of the larger body.
* Mass Does Affect Orbital Period: The mass of the orbiting object *does* affect its orbital period. A heavier object takes slightly longer to complete an orbit at the same distance. This is because the heavier object exerts a stronger gravitational force on the larger body, slightly slowing its orbital speed.
Example:
A satellite and a space station orbiting Earth at the same distance will have essentially the same orbital velocity, even if the space station is much heavier. However, the space station's orbital period will be slightly longer.
In Summary:
While mass isn't the primary factor determining orbital velocity, it does play a role in the orbital period. For most practical purposes, the mass of the orbiting object is negligible compared to the gravitational pull of the body it's orbiting.
