The understanding of processes in the monolayer at the air-water interface induced by mechanical compression is important as a part of basic research of the system with reduced dimensionality as well as for the investigation of processes during the Langmuir-Blodgett deposition. The Maxwell displacement current technique provides a substantial contribution for the study of structural and electrical properties. Analysis based on imperfect gas approximation with semi-empirical intermolecular potentials is used. Detail theoretical study of molecular tilt in a continual lateral compression and dielectric relaxation phenomena (step-compression) is presented. Obtained results are confronted with standard surface pressure analysis and surface potential measurement. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.