Water Potential Calculator
The ultimate tool for calculating water potential gradients in botanical and soil science. Analyze solute potential, pressure effects, and water movement vectors.
What is Water Potential?
Water potential is the measure of the relative tendency of water to move from one area to another, and is commonly represented by the Greek letter $\Psi$ (Psi). It is critical in understanding how plants move water from roots to leaves.
Van 't Hoff Equation
The solute potential ($\Psi_s$) is calculated using the Van 't Hoff equation: $\Psi_s = -iCRT$. This relationship shows how ionization, concentration, and temperature directly impact the osmotic pressure of a solution.
Units & Standards
Modern botany primarily uses Megapascals (MPa), but older literature often refers to bars or atmospheres. Our calculator supports all three with precise conversion constants (1 MPa = 10 bars).