In an RL circuit, what does a larger time constant imply?

In an RL circuit, the time constant is defined as the ratio of inductance (L) to resistance (R), often denoted as τ (tau). A larger time constant indicates that the inductance is relatively high compared to the resistance, which means that the circuit takes longer to reach a steady state when a voltage is applied. Specifically, it takes more time for the current to rise to approximately 63.2% of its maximum value when the circuit is switched on.

This slower current rise occurs because inductance opposes changes in current. As the time constant increases, it reflects a greater ability of the inductor to resist sudden changes, resulting in a gradual increase in current rather than an immediate spike. This gradual approach to the maximum current means that with a larger time constant, the overall response of the circuit is slower, confirming that the choice indicating a slower current rise is accurate.