Relaxation Times

Relaxation times refer to the duration it takes for a system to return to equilibrium after being disturbed. In various fields, such as physics and biology, this concept helps describe how quickly things settle down. For example, after stirring sugar in tea, the relaxation time is the period it takes for the sugar to evenly dissolve. Similarly, in a stressed material, it indicates how long it takes to regain its original shape after the stress is removed. Essentially, relaxation times measure the speed of recovery to a stable state following a change or disturbance.