๐Ÿ’กap physics c: e&m review

Exponential decay

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025

Definition

A process in which a quantity decreases over time proportionally to its current value, following the form Q(t) = Qโ‚€e^(-t/ฯ„); in RC circuits, describes how charge or voltage decays when a capacitor discharges.

AP course connection

Topic 11.8: 11.8 Resistor-Capacitor (RC) Circuits

Unit 11

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