• The time constant of a capacitor discharging through a resistor is a measure of how long it takes for the capacitor to discharge
• The definition of the time constant is:

The time taken for the charge, current or voltage of a discharging capacitor to decrease to 37% of its original value

• Alternatively, for a?charging?capacitor:

The time taken for the charge or voltage of a charging capacitor to rise to 63% of its maximum value

• 37% is 0.37 or 1 / e (where e is the exponential function) multiplied by the original value (I0,?Q0?or?V0)
• This is represented by the Greek letter tau, and measured in units of seconds?(s)
• The time constant provides an easy way to compare the rate of change of similar quantities eg. charge, current and p.d.
• It is defined by the equation:

• For example, to find the time constant from a voltage-time graph, calculate 0.37V0?and determine the corresponding time for that value

The time constant shown on a charging and discharging capacitor

• The time to half, t1/2?(half-life) for a discharging capacitor is:

The time taken for the charge, current or voltage of a discharging capacitor to reach half of its initial value

• This can also be written in terms of the time constant: