time constant
The interval required for a system or circuit to change a specified fraction from one state or condition to another.
Note 1: The time constant is used in the expression 
where A(t) is the value of the state at time t, A(0) is the value of the state at time t = 0, a is the time constant, and t is the time that has elapsed from the start of the exponential decay.
Note 2: When t = a, A(t)/A(0) = 1/e, or approximately
0. 37, and the system has changed about 63% toward its new value in one time constant. A system is considered to have changed its state after the elapse of three time constants, which corresponds to a 95% change in state. For example, if an electrical capacitor, having a capacitance of C farads, is discharged through a resistor, having a resistance of R ohms, the capacitor will be approximately 95% discharged after the elapse of 3RC seconds.
Note 3: Time constants are expressed in seconds, such as
3. 5 × 10-6 seconds, i.e.,
3. 5 
s. [From Weik ’89]