Definition:Transient

Definition
Consider the Decay Equation:
 * $\dfrac{\mathrm d y}{\mathrm d x} = k \left({y_a - y}\right)$

where:
 * $k \in \R: k > 0$
 * $y = y_0$ at $x = 0$

which has the solution:
 * $(1): \quad y = y_a + \left({y_0 - y_a}\right) e^{-k x}$

The term:
 * $\left({y_0 - y_a}\right) e^{-k x}$

which tends to zero with increasing $x$, is known as the transient part.

Electronics
The term is often seen in the context of the current in an $LR$ electric circuit:

Also see

 * Definition:Steady-State