How to use the electric potential energy calculator
Energy of two point charges at a separation. Enter charge 1, charge 2, distance in the fields above; the potential energy is computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- q1 — Charge 1 (µC)
- q2 — Charge 2 (µC)
- r — Distance (m)
Worked example
With charge 1 = 2 µC, charge 2 = 3 µC, distance = 0.1 m, the calculator gives potential energy ≈ 0.5392531 J.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the electric potential energy calculation?
Potential energy (J) = KE × q1 × 1e-6 × q2 × 1e-6 / r. Here q1 is charge 1 (µC), q2 is charge 2 (µC), r is distance (m).
What inputs do I need for the electric potential energy calculator?
You need charge 1 in µC, charge 2 in µC, distance in m. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.