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Reference.org
Relaxation (physics)
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<p>In the physical sciences, relaxation usually means the return of a perturbed system into <a href="/facts/Thermodynamic_equilibrium/1D7nGm0d">equilibrium</a>. Each relaxation process can be categorized by a relaxation time <a href="/facts/Tau/gfvnmJoH">τ</a>. The simplest theoretical description of relaxation as function of time <i>t</i> is an exponential law exp(−<i>t</i>/<i>τ</i>) (<a href="/facts/Exponential_decay/wLB1zYDP">exponential decay</a>). </p>