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Time constant

In physics and engineering, the time constant, usually denoted by the Greek letter τ (tau), is the parameter characterizing the response to a step input of a first-order, linear time-invariant (LTI) system. The time constant is the main characteristic unit of a first-order LTI system. It gives speed of the response. For example, in a simple RC circuit…

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RL circuitInductorSecondsResistanceOhms
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Overview

PhysicsEngineeringGreekParameterLinear time-invariant
24 related topics

Relation of time constant to bandwidth

Sine waveEuler's formulaSteady-stateDecibels
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Step response with arbitrary initial conditions

Unit step functionElectric motor
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Differential equation

Relation of time constant to bandwidth

Step response with arbitrary initial conditions

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Time constant

Nodes70
Edges69
Triples43
Avg. degree1.97
Density0.028571
Components1

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Time constant

Top relations

related to Thermal time constant · 8
Time constant → As, Equating, Evidently, In, LTI, Ta, The, Time
is a · 6
Time constant → characteristic time scale over which a first-order system responds to a sudden change in its input, main characteristic unit of a first-order LTI system, time constant that characterizes how quickly the membrane potential changes, time elapsed after 63, time for the system's step response to reach 1, time it takes the measured value to reach about 63
related to Exponential decay · 5
Time constant → HL, In, T1/2, The, THL
related to Exponential decay example · 4
Time constant → An, The, Thus, V0
related to External links · 4
Time constant → Buildings, Conversion, Thermal Time Constant, Voltage
related to Time constants in electrical circuits · 4
Time constant → In, RC, RL, Similarly
related to Meteorological sensors · 3
Time constant → For, Radiosondes, This
related to Time constants in biophysics · 2
Time constant → In, The
see also · 1
Time constant → RC

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Important terminology

time constant displaystyle response tau system step value decay first-order function input systems frac 63 initial equation example change used

Entity relationships Subject–Predicate–Object triples

SubjectPredicateObjectConfidenceSrc
Time constantis amain characteristic unit of a first-order LTI system0.90text
Time constantis atime for the system's step response to reach 10.90text
Time constantis acharacteristic time scale over which a first-order system responds to a sudden change in its input0.90text
Time constantis atime constant that characterizes how quickly the membrane potential changes0.90text
Time constantis atime elapsed after 630.90text
Time constantis atime it takes the measured value to reach about 630.90text
a muscle or neuroninstance ofthe body assumes the same temperature as the ambient at an exponentially slow rate determined by the time constant.Time constants in biophysicsIn an excitable cell0.80text
the membrane time constant is the time constant that characterizes how quickly the membrane potential changesinstance ofthe body assumes the same temperature as the ambient at an exponentially slow rate determined by the time constant.Time constants in biophysicsIn an excitable cell0.80text
and is τinstance ofthe body assumes the same temperature as the ambient at an exponentially slow rate determined by the time constant.Time constants in biophysicsIn an excitable cell0.80text
a muscle or neuroninstance ofTime constants in biophysicsIn an excitable cell0.80text
the membrane time constant is the time constant that characterizes how quickly the membrane potential changesinstance ofTime constants in biophysicsIn an excitable cell0.80text
and is τinstance ofTime constants in biophysicsIn an excitable cell0.80text

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