| astable equilibrium |
One of three types of equilibrium. If a system, when nudged from an equilibrium condition, tries neither to return to the equilibrium value, nor to move farther from it, then that original equilibrium is said to be "astable" or "neutrally stable". |
| causal loop |
A circular pathway of cause and effect. Also known as a "feedback loop". |
| emergent property |
Any new property or function that arises out of interactions among the parts of a system. |
| equilibrium |
A trivial pattern of change in which NO change occurs in the quantities(s) of interest. Things remain constant. There are three types of equilibrium: stable, unstable, and astable. |
| exponential |
A pattern of change in which the amount of change that occurs in a quantity during a small interval of time is proportional to the amount of that quantity present. |
| feedback loop |
A circular pathway of cause and effect. Also known as a "causal loop". |
| model |
see system model |
| negative feedback loop |
A feedback loop that, acting alone, will tend to conteract or resist any small change in any of the quantities in the feedback loop. Negative feedback loops are commonly associated with steady, constant, equilibrium situations that tend to resist change. |
| neutrally-stable equilibrium |
See astable equilibrium. |
| positive feedback loop |
A feedback loop that, acting alone, will tend to enhance or augment any small change in any of the quantities in the feedback loop. Common expressions referring to a positive feedback loop include: viscious cycle, snowballing, or run-away situation. |
| ramp |
A pattern of change in which the change is occurring at a steady rate. Example: the amount of water in a bathtub being filled at a constant rate of 1 gallon per minute. |
| stable equilibrium |
An equilibrium is said to be "stable" if the system tends to return to that equilibrium condition whenever it is nudged off of that equilibrium. |
| subsystem |
A system within a system. |
| supersystem |
A system composed of other systems. |
| system |
A system is a collection of parts (and/or processes) interacting in ways that produce a new entity, property, or function. |
