# Transient state

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State of a system after conditions are changed, before it settles into steady state

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In [systems theory](/source/Systems_theory), a [system](/source/System) is said to be **transient** or in a **transient state** when a [process variable](/source/Process_variable) or variables have been changed and the system has not yet reached a [steady state](/source/Steady_state). In [electrical engineering](/source/Electrical_engineering), the time taken for an [electronic circuit](/source/Electronic_circuit) to change from one steady state to another steady state is called the **transient time.**

## Examples

### Chemical Engineering

When a [chemical reactor](/source/Chemical_reactor) is being brought into operation, the concentrations, temperatures, species compositions, and reaction rates are changing with time until operation reaches its nominal process variables.

### Electrical engineering

When a [switch](/source/Switch) is closed in an electrical circuit containing a [capacitor](/source/Capacitor) or [inductor](/source/Inductor), the component draws out the resulting change in voltage or current, causing the system to take a substantial amount of time to reach a new [steady state](/source/Steady_state_(electronics)). This period of time is known as the transient state.

A capacitor acts as a [short circuit](/source/Short_circuit) immediately after the switch is closed, increasing its [impedance](/source/Electrical_impedance) during the transient state until it acts as an open circuit in its steady state.

An inductor is the opposite, behaving as an open circuit until reaching a short circuit steady state.

## See also

- [Attractor](/source/Attractor)

- [Carrying capacity](/source/Carrying_capacity)

- [Control theory](/source/Control_theory)

- [Dynamical system](/source/Dynamical_system)

- [Ecological footprint](/source/Ecological_footprint)

- [Economic growth](/source/Economic_growth)

- [Engine test stand](/source/Engine_test_stand)

- [Equilibrium point](/source/Equilibrium_point)

- [List of types of equilibrium](/source/List_of_types_of_equilibrium)

- [Evolutionary economics](/source/Evolutionary_economics)

- [Growth curve](/source/Growth_curve_(statistics))

- [Herman Daly](/source/Herman_Daly)

- [Homeostasis](/source/Homeostasis)

- [Lead-lag compensator](/source/Lead-lag_compensator)

- [Limit cycle](/source/Limit_cycle)

- [Limits to Growth](/source/Limits_to_Growth)

- [Population dynamics](/source/Population_dynamics)

- [Race condition](/source/Race_condition)

- [Simulation](/source/Simulation)

- [State function](/source/State_function)

- [Steady state](/source/Steady_state)

- [Steady state economy](/source/Steady_state_economy)

- [Steady State theory](/source/Steady_State_theory)

- [Systems theory](/source/Systems_theory)

- [Thermodynamic equilibrium](/source/Thermodynamic_equilibrium)

- [Transient modelling](/source/Transient_modelling)

- [Transient response](/source/Transient_response)

## References

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