Calculate electric potential, field strength, and potential energy for point charges with superposition, dielectric effects, and distance analysis.
The electric potential calculator determines the voltage, electric field, and potential energy created by point charges at a given distance. Electric potential (voltage) is a scalar quantity that represents the work per unit charge needed to move a test charge from infinity to a point in the electric field, making it fundamental to understanding electrostatic interactions.
Using Coulomb's law and the superposition principle, this calculator handles single charges and two-charge configurations, computing the net potential at any field point. The superposition principle states that the total potential from multiple charges is simply the algebraic sum of individual potentials — unlike vector electric fields, potentials add as scalars, simplifying calculations considerably.
The tool also computes potential energy of a test charge at the field point, the electric field magnitude, and provides a distance table showing how potential falls off as 1/r. It supports dielectric media by incorporating the relative permittivity, which reduces the effective Coulomb constant in materials like water (εr ≈ 80) or glass (εr ≈ 5–10).
Electric potential calculations are essential in electrostatics education, capacitor design, semiconductor physics, and electrochemistry. This calculator provides instant answers for homework problems, lab work, and engineering applications involving charge distributions, with support for dielectrics and multi-charge superposition. The note above highlights common interpretation risks for this workflow. Use this guidance when comparing outputs across similar calculators. Keep this check aligned with your reporting standard.
Electric potential: V = k·Q/r where k = 8.988 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² (Coulomb constant). Superposition: V_total = Σ(k·Qᵢ/rᵢ). Electric field: E = k·Q/r². Potential energy: U = q·V. In a dielectric medium: k_eff = k/εr.
Result: 8,988 V electric potential
A +1 μC charge at 1 m distance creates a potential of V = (8.988 × 10⁹)(1 × 10⁻⁶)/1 = 8,988 V in vacuum.
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Electric potential (voltage) at a point is the work done per unit charge to bring a positive test charge from infinity to that point. It is measured in volts (V = J/C).
Potential is a scalar (magnitude only) and falls off as 1/r. Electric field is a vector (magnitude and direction) and falls off as 1/r². The field is the negative gradient of the potential.
Superposition allows calculating the potential from multiple charges by simply adding individual potentials. This is much simpler than adding electric field vectors.
The dielectric constant (relative permittivity εr) measures how much a material reduces the electric field. Vacuum has εr = 1, water ≈ 80, which is why ionic interactions are much weaker in water.
Elementary charge: 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C. Microcoulombs (10⁻⁶ C) are typical in electrostatic experiments. Lightning transfers about 5 C. Van de Graaff generators store ~10⁻⁵ C.
Yes. Negative charges create negative potentials. The sign indicates whether a positive test charge would gain or lose energy approaching the source charge.