GEOG 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Dynamic Equilibrium, Negative Feedback, Positive Feedback

• School: Irvine Valley College
• Department: Geography
• Course: GEOG 1
• Professor: stevens

Document Summary

Systems change, but tend to be in, or in the process of being in, some form of an equilibrium state. Equilibrium: the changing, or relatively non-changing conditions of a system; all systems will change over time, but at different rates, thus some are seemingly in equilibrium while others may be moving toward a state of equilibrium (fig. * steady-state equilibrium: when a system is in balance over time, is neither growing or contracting but is in full operation; may oscillate around an average level or condition. * dynamic equilibrium: fluctuates around an average value, but demonstrates a trend over time. * feedback: change in one part (variable/factor) of a system causes change in another part (variable/factor) (pg. Negative feedback = keeps system in original condition inhibiting change; are self- regulating. Positive feedback = induces a progressively greater change in a system; the "snowball effect" Ex: growth of a hurricane (read insert 1. 1, pg.