CCLers: In the expression for Coulombic potential e^2 V(r) = - ----------- 4 pi Eo r where Eo the permittivity of free space; e charge; r distance between electron and proton. Could someone enlighten me the significance of permittivity, what actually it means and why does the coulombic potential decreases with the increase in permittivity. Thanks Artiben ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com