Electric Potential Calculator
Calculate electric potential and voltage from point charges using electrostatic principles
Calculate Electric Potential
Point charge creating the electric potential
Distance from charge to measurement point
1.0 for vacuum/air, higher for other materials
Select desired unit for potential output
Electric Potential Results
Potential Analysis
Example Calculation
Point Charge Example
Charge: 4 × 10⁻⁷ C
Distance: 10 cm
Medium: Vacuum (εᵣ = 1)
Calculation
V = kQ/r
V = (8.988 × 10⁹) × (4 × 10⁻⁷) / (0.1)
V = 3.6 × 10⁴ V
Key Formulas
V = kQ/r
Potential from point charge
k = 8.988 × 10⁹ N⋅m²/C²
V = Σ(kQᵢ/rᵢ)
Potential from multiple charges
Scalar sum of individual potentials
ΔV = Vₐ - Vᵦ
Potential difference
Work per unit charge
Physical Constants
Understanding Electric Potential
What is Electric Potential?
Electric potential is the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in space. It represents the work done to bring a unit positive charge from infinity to that point against the electric field. Unlike electric field, potential is a scalar quantity.
Potential vs Potential Energy
- •Electric Potential (V): Energy per unit charge (J/C or V)
- •Potential Energy (U): Total energy stored (J)
- •Relationship: U = qV (energy = charge × potential)
Mathematical Foundation
V = kQ/r
Electric potential from a point charge
Sign Convention: Positive charges create positive potential, negative charges create negative potential. Potential is zero at infinite distance.
Equipotential Surfaces
Surfaces where electric potential is constant. No work is required to move a charge along an equipotential surface, and electric field lines are perpendicular to them.
Voltage and Batteries
Voltage is potential difference between two points. A 1.5V battery maintains a 1.5V potential difference between its terminals, driving current through circuits.
Energy Conservation
Electric potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy as charges move through potential differences, following conservation of energy principles.