The Electrostatic Potential Energy calculator computes the magnitude of potential energy between two charged particles based on their charge and the distance between them.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (Q1) Charge of Particle One
• (Q2) Charge of Particle Two
• (d) Distance between Particles

Electrostatic Potential Energy (E_el): The results are returns in electron volts (eV).  However, this can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.

The Math / Science

The Electrostatic Potential Energy equation computes the  magnitude of the potential energy resulting from the electrostatic interaction of two charged particles having charges of `Q_1` and `Q_2` respectively, where the particle are separated by distance d. 

The potential energy is proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the distance between the charges, so `E_"el" prop (Q_1*Q_2)/d`.

The constant of proportionality in this equation is the Coulomb Constant, `k_e`.

Energy Calculators

• Kinetic Energy:                                    `KE= 1/2 *m * v^2`
• Kinetic Energy (change of velocity):    `KE = 1/2*m*(V_1-V_2)^2`
• Relativistic Kinetic Energy:                    `E_K = (m*c^2)/sqrt(1 - v^2"/"c^2") - m*c^2`
• Potential Energy:                                  `U(y) = m*g*y`
• Potential Energy of Gravity (two bodies):   `U(G) = - (G*m1*m2)/r`
• Nuclear Binding Energy:                       `E = m*c^2`
• Quantum Energy (Planck's Equation):   `E = h*f`
• Energy of a Particle in a Box:                `E_n=(n^2h^2)/(8mL^2)`
• Molecular Kinetic Energy:                      `KE = 3/2 * k_B *T`
• Electrostatic Potential Energy:               `E_(el) = k_e * (Q_1*Q_2)/d`
• Photon Energy from Wavelength:          `E = (h*c)/lambda`
• Heat Energy to Change Material Temperature:  `Q = C * m *DeltaT`

Notes

The potential energy can be a due to either the force of attraction (between particles of opposite charge) or the force of repulsion (between particles of the same charge).