time constant
3
7.0
- noun
- /taɪm ˈkɒnstənt/
- Specialized
:
constante de tiempo
- So associated with that circuit is the time constant Tau, which is simply RC.
- time constant filter
- thermal time constant
- decay time constant
Examples
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The electrical time constant is 1.0 millisecond; the mechanical time constant is 19.2 milliseconds.
Academic text (1995) -
The linear filter was a low-pass filter with a time constant of 80 ms.
Academic text (1992) -
For these reasons, one expects the thermal time constant to be extremely long.
Academic text (1995) -
Now if if this is decaying so fast, that one time constant is sort of like this, right?
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In a subsequent reply to comments, he arrives at a time constant of 10 years.
Blog text (27) -
Conversely, a low thermal time constant will cause the rotors to lose heat quickly.
Academic text (1994) -
The vestibulo-ocular reflex gain and dominant time constant decrease with age.
Academic text (1999) -
One apparent disadvantage of not having iron in the rotor is the short thermal time constant.
Academic text (1994) -
The linear filter was a low-pass filter with a time constant of 80 ms.
-
The electrical time constant is 1.0 millisecond, which affects the circuit's response rate.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'time constant' is partially transparent because combining 'time' and 'constant' conveys the idea of a fixed or characteristic amount of time, so a learner who knows both words can infer a general sense (a specific, stable time related to a process). However, the precise technical meaning used in electronics — the ~63% change rule and its role in circuit behaviour — is specialised and not derivable from the constituents alone, so full understanding requires domain knowledge despite cross‑linguistic cognates.
Etymology
Time constant is a scientific phrase that names a fixed amount of time (a constant) used to show how fast a voltage or current changes. Imagine you start a change; after one time constant the change is about 'two-thirds' done, so the term now means the fixed time that tells how quickly a circuit or system reacts.