1. The continuity equation states that the time rate of change of charge within a volume must equal the net outward current flow through the closed surface.
2. When charge is introduced into a conductor or dielectric, the volume charge density will decay over time according to an exponential decay function.
3. The relaxation time is the time constant of this exponential decay function, and represents the time needed for the initial charge density to reduce to 37% of its initial value. Relaxation times are short for good conductors but long for good dielectrics.