1.3 - ENERGY AND EQUILIBRIA

Question 1

What is equilibria?

Answer 1

when all competing components, storages and processes in a sysem are balanced

Question 2

Types of equilibria

Answer 2

-Static equilibrium: All components of a system are at rest and net forces are all zero.
-Steady-state equilibrium: the average condition of the system is uncharged, but often has deviations above/below the average.
-Stable equilibrium: when a system returns to original equilibrium after a disturbance (e.g. Ozone layer)
-Unstable equilibrium: not in equilibrium. A new equilibrium is formed after the disturbance.

Question 3

What is a feedback?

Answer 3

Outputs becoming inputs that influence equilibria.

Question 4

Types of feedback

Answer 4

• Positive feedback: causes increased change in a system. Bad for ecosystems, changes them.
• Negative feedback: causes a system to return to or maintain equilibrium. Good in ecosystems (e.g. when a piece of land burns, land can restore what was lost, or sweating/shivering to restore body temperature)

Question 5

What is resilience?

Answer 5

the tendency of a system to maintain stability and resist tipping points.

Question 6

What is a tipping point?

Answer 6

the minimum amount of change within a system that will destabilize it and cause it to reach a new equilibrium or stability.

Question 7

Entropy

Answer 7

measurement of disorder in a system