Definition:Transient

Definition

Consider the Decay Equation:

$\dfrac {\d y} {\d x} = k \paren {y_a - y}$

where:

$k \in \R: k > 0$

$y = y_0$ at $x = 0$

which has the particular solution:

$(1): \quad y = y_a + \paren {y_0 - y_a} e^{-k x}$

The term:

$\paren {y_0 - y_a} e^{-k x}$

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 $K$:

The electric current $I$ in $K$ is given by the equation:

$I = \dfrac {E_0} R + \paren {I_0 - \dfrac {E_0} R} e^{-R t / L}$

The term:

$\paren {I_0 - \dfrac {E_0} R} e^{-R t / L}$

which dies away to zero over time, is known as the transient part.

Also see

• Definition:Steady-State