What term describes the time required for a capacitor in an RC circuit to charge to 63.2% of the supply voltage?

The time required for a capacitor in an RC (resistor-capacitor) circuit to charge to 63.2% of the supply voltage is known as the time constant. This is a crucial concept in electronics, as the time constant, denoted by the symbol τ (tau), is mathematically defined as the product of resistance (R) and capacitance (C) in the circuit (τ = R × C).

In practical terms, the time constant provides a measure of how quickly a capacitor charges or discharges in response to a step voltage change. After one time constant, the voltage across the capacitor will have reached approximately 63.2% of its maximum value (the supply voltage).

Understanding the time constant is essential for analyzing the behavior of RC circuits in various applications, such as timing circuits, filtering applications, and waveform shaping. Knowledge of this concept helps engineers and technicians predict circuit responses and design efficient electronic systems.