RC Circuit Time Constant
In an RC circuit, the quantity RC is called the time constant. I get that the dimensions of R and C work out to give a the dimension time, but what exactly is this time constant?
Answer
The time constant appears in all the formulas for the charge, current, and voltage of a capacitor over time while it is charging or discharging. It appears within the exponential e^(-t/RC).
In the case of a capacitor discharging, the time constant is the amount of time required for the the voltage and charge to be reduced by a factor of 1/e. This might seem strange, but it's the characteristic way to measure the decay time when an exponential is involved.
Basically, it's a measure of how slowly the capacitor will charge or discharge.
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The time constant appears in all the formulas for the charge, current, and voltage of a capacitor over time while it is charging or discharging. It appears within the exponential e^(-t/RC).
In the case of a capacitor discharging, the time constant is the amount of time required for the the voltage and charge to be reduced by a factor of 1/e. This might seem strange, but it's the characteristic way to measure the decay time when an exponential is involved.
Basically, it's a measure of how slowly the capacitor will charge or discharge.