Time and Thermal Time constant explaination

[vsg21]

Hi,

I have read the defination of a time constant on the internet and yet still don't quite understand it. How do I relate it to the following sentece and what does it mean:

" The transient energy will have a duration much shorter than the thermal time constant of a bridge wire."

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!

 

[berkeman]

Hi,

I have read the defination of a time constant on the internet and yet still don't quite understand it. How do I relate it to the following sentece and what does it mean:

" The transient energy will have a duration much shorter than the thermal time constant of a bridge wire."

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!

The term "time constant" generally refers to phenomena that have an exponential characteristic in their behavior:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_constant

.

 

[I_am_learning]

Not knowing what a bridge wire is, I guess it may be trying to say this
Although the energy released (heat produced) is in transient state (varying rapidly) we don't see any such thermal evidence (temperature don't follow that pattern, it increases quite steadily) because the device is bulky (high thermal time constant).

It would help if you told us the context.