Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / ib / Paper 4 / 7C / Solution

Taking the divergence of the Ampère-Maxwell equation and using the Gauss's law $\nabla \cdot E=\rho /{\epsilon }_0$ giveswhich is charge conservation from Maxwell equations ${\rho }_t+\nabla \cdot J=0$.

By Ohm's law, $J=\sigma E$, so $\nabla \cdot J=\sigma \rho /{\epsilon }_0$. Thereforewith charge-relaxation rate $\sigma /{\epsilon }_0$ and time ${\epsilon }_0/\sigma$.