1. What is Electric Potential?

Electric potential (V) is the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field. It represents the work needed to move a unit positive charge from infinity to that point without acceleration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electric potential formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Electric potential (volts)
• \( k \) — Coulomb's constant (9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C²)
• \( Q \) — Point charge (coulombs)
• \( r \) — Distance from the charge (meters)

Explanation: The formula calculates the electric potential at a distance r from a point charge Q in a vacuum.

3. Importance of Electric Potential Calculation

Details: Calculating electric potential is essential for understanding electric fields, designing electrical systems, and analyzing charge distributions in physics and engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the charge in coulombs and distance in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator assumes a point charge in a vacuum.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between electric potential and electric potential energy?
A: Electric potential is potential energy per unit charge, while electric potential energy depends on the amount of charge.

Q2: What are typical units for electric potential?
A: The SI unit is volts (V), equivalent to joules per coulomb (J/C).

Q3: Does this formula work for multiple charges?
A: For multiple charges, calculate the potential from each charge separately and sum them (superposition principle).

Q4: What if the medium isn't vacuum?
A: In other media, replace k with 1/(4πε) where ε is the permittivity of the medium.

Q5: Can this calculate potential difference?
A: Yes, potential difference is the difference in V between two points.