How does electric potential change with distance from a point charge?

The electric potential generated by a point charge is a scalar quantity that varies based on the distance from that charge. Specifically, the potential at a given point in space is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the distance between that point and the charge.12

By convention, if the electric potential is defined as zero at an infinite distance from the charge, the potential $V$ at a distance $r$ from a point charge $Q$ is expressed as:

$$V=\frac{kQ}{r}$$

In this relationship, as the distance $r$ from the charge increases, the magnitude of the electric potential decreases. Conversely, as a point moves closer to the charge, the potential increases in magnitude. This scalar field creates a "landscape" of potential energy; for a positive charge, the potential is positive, while for a negative charge, the potential is negative, effectively creating a "funnel" that influences the movement of other charges within the field.12