Final answer:
The revised estimate of the Milky Way's mass, including dark matter, affects the calculation of its escape velocity, indicating that it would be higher than previously thought based on visible matter alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The new estimate of the mass of the Milky Way can significantly affect calculations of the galaxy's escape velocity. Initially, astronomers believed that the mass contained within the Sun's orbit provided a good estimate of the total galactic mass, since the number of bright stars and luminous matter tapers off beyond 30,000 light-years from the galactic center.
To calculate the escape velocity, we utilize Newton's version of Kepler's third law, where the mass of the Milky Way vastly overshadows that of the Sun, placing the majority of the influencing gravitational force at the galactic center. However, the discovery of dark matter, which does not emit electromagnetic radiation, changed the paradigm.