⚡ Electric Potential Calculator
Calculate electric potential from a point charge
Use positive for positive charge, negative for negative charge
Distance from the charge to the point where potential is calculated
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Charge
Input the charge value in Coulombs. Use positive for positive charges, negative for negative charges. Use scientific notation for small values (e.g., 1e-6 for 1 microcoulomb).
Enter Distance
Input the distance from the point charge to the location where you want to calculate the electric potential, in meters.
Calculate
Click the "Calculate Electric Potential" button to get the potential in Volts. Positive potential indicates work must be done to bring a positive test charge from infinity, negative potential indicates work is released.
Formula
V = kq / r
Where:
- V = Electric Potential (Volts, V)
- k = Coulomb's constant = 8.99 × 10⁹ N⋅m²/C²
- q = Charge (Coulombs, C)
- r = Distance from charge (meters, m)
Example Calculation:
For a charge of 1 μC (1 × 10⁻⁶ C) at a distance of 10 cm (0.1 m):
V = (8.99 × 10⁹ × 1 × 10⁻⁶) / 0.1
V = 8990 / 0.1
V = 89,900 V = 89.9 kV
Note: Electric potential is a scalar quantity (no direction), unlike electric field which is a vector. Potential decreases with distance from a positive charge and increases (becomes less negative) with distance from a negative charge.
About Electric Potential Calculator
The Electric Potential Calculator determines the electric potential (voltage) at a point in space due to a point charge. Electric potential represents the potential energy per unit charge and is measured in Volts. It's a scalar quantity that helps understand energy in electrostatic systems and is fundamental to circuit analysis and electrostatics.
When to Use This Calculator
- Electrostatics: Calculate potential due to point charges and charge distributions
- Circuit Analysis: Understand voltage relationships in electrical circuits
- Physics Education: Solve problems involving electric potential and potential energy
- Field Analysis: Map electric potential in space around charges
- Energy Calculations: Determine potential energy of charges in electric fields
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Quick Calculation: Instantly calculate potential from charge and distance
- ✅ Scientific Notation: Handles very large and very small charge values
- ✅ Accurate Results: Uses precise Coulomb's constant for exact calculations
- ✅ Free Tool: No registration or payment required
- ✅ Educational: Learn about electric potential and voltage
Common Applications
Capacitor Analysis: Calculate potential differences in capacitors, where understanding electric potential is essential for determining stored energy and charge distribution in parallel plate and other capacitor configurations.
Battery and Power Systems: Understand voltage in batteries and power supplies, where electric potential difference (voltage) drives current flow through circuits and determines energy transfer.
Particle Physics: Analyze potential energy in charged particle systems, where electric potential helps understand how particles gain or lose energy when moving through electric fields in accelerators and particle detectors.
Tips for Best Results
- Electric potential is a scalar - it has magnitude but no direction
- Potential is positive for positive charges and negative for negative charges
- Potential decreases with distance from a positive charge (1/r relationship)
- For multiple charges, potentials add algebraically (scalar addition)
- Electric field is the negative gradient of electric potential: E = -∇V
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between electric potential and electric field?
Electric potential (V) is a scalar quantity representing potential energy per unit charge, measured in Volts. Electric field (E) is a vector quantity representing force per unit charge, measured in N/C or V/m. The electric field is the negative gradient of potential: E = -∇V.
Why is potential zero at infinity?
We define potential as zero at infinity as a reference point. The potential at any point represents the work needed to bring a unit positive charge from infinity to that point. This choice makes calculations simpler and is a standard convention in electrostatics.
How does potential relate to potential energy?
Potential energy U = qV, where q is the charge and V is the potential. So potential is potential energy per unit charge. If you have a charge q at a location with potential V, its potential energy is qV.
Can potential be negative?
Yes! Negative potential means negative work would be done bringing a positive test charge from infinity (or positive work would be done by the field). This occurs around negative charges and in regions where the electric field points toward the charge.
What if I have multiple charges?
For multiple point charges, calculate the potential due to each charge separately, then add them algebraically (since potential is a scalar): V_total = V₁ + V₂ + V₃ + ... = k(q₁/r₁ + q₂/r₂ + q₃/r₃ + ...).
Is this the same as voltage?
Electric potential difference is voltage. The potential at a point is the voltage at that point relative to infinity (or some reference). In circuits, we usually measure voltage differences between two points, which is the potential difference.