time constant

time constant

English

Noun

time constant (plural time constants)

1. (mathematics) A characteristic of an exponential function, represented by τ in the function:

   ${\\displaystyle y(t)\\ =\\ y_{o}e^{-t/\\tau }\\ }$.

2. (physics) The time in which a physical system's response to a step-wise change in an external variable reaches approximately 63% of its final (asymptotic) value.

Translations

math: characteristic of exponential function

Finnish: aikavakio

physics: characteristic of step response

Finnish: aikavakio