Electric Potential

The electric potential is the potential energy per coulomb:

V = U / q

measured in volts (1 V = 1 J/C). It is a number, not a vector.

Around a point charge:

V = k Q / r

Potentials of several charges simply add.

Moving a charge across a potential difference ΔV takes work:

W = q ΔV

1 eV = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ J: the energy an electron gains across 1 V.