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Summary on equilibrium

Topic: Equilibrium
by Tania, 2018 Cohort

Note: This entry was created in 2018, when the task was to “summarise a key reading”, and so may not represent a good example to model current primer entries on.

In a fast-paced, frequently changing world, equilibrium is the balance that provides the stability that can be found within many of the smallest to the largest elements of our environment. In a system that is not fixed this balance is referred to as dynamic equilibrium due to the changes that are occurring within the system to achieve and maintain that balance.

Dynamic equilibrium determines life, as we know it. The balance that results from dynamic equilibrium regulates the well-being of every living thing on our planet and that of the Earth itself. Systems that exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium maintain a relatively constant pattern or state by counteracting changes as they occur, providing stability and health to that system (see Attractors). These systems can be incredibly complex involving many factors intricately dependent on the behaviours of a multitude of other components.

If the changes that occurred to each of the components of a system were added together and graphed over time, the system would be in a state of dynamic equilibrium when the resulting line were parallel with the x-axis, or time, (see diagram). At these points, changes in the system will have been counteracted such as to equate to there being no net change within that system. A balanced system would deviate little from this line, however, as the path of the line is dependent on all contributory components, so too is the dynamic equilibrium of the system.

The cells within a human body are an example of a system in dynamic equilibrium. They regulate our body temperature, blood sugar levels, metabolism and more. Another example of a system in dynamic equilibrium is the predator-prey relationship within an ecosystem. The number of predators or prey in a system directly influences the population growth and decline of the other, and the population of both is dependent on a diversity of other contributing elements within their ecosystem.

Generally, small changes to the normal dynamics can be absorbed by the system and the line will gravitate back to its original path (see Entropy). However, any large change will influence a system in a potentially irreversible way. If the dynamic equilibrium in our cells failed, our lives would likely be over. In a predator-prey dynamic, if either population were to disappear the implications would not only affect the population of the other but would also reverberate through the entire ecosystem.

This leads to the uncertainty beyond the stability of dynamic equilibrium. It is likely that given a change with sufficiently large implications a system would find a new stability, or a new normal. However, this equilibrium could not possibly be as it were before that change simply because the very fabric of the system would have been altered.

This is particularly significant if the system is a major component of a much larger system, such as that of our planet. This is not to say that a different state of dynamic equilibrium would be better or worse, although it is worth considering the intricate complexities of our current state of equilibrium and appreciate the brilliance that is life, as we know it.

References#

Izhikevich, EM 2007, Equilibrium, Scholarpedia, viewed 13th March 2018, http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Equilibrium.

Li, L 2014, Dynamic Equilibrium, in Biology Dictionary, L Li (ed.), viewed 13th March 2018 https://biologydictionary.net/dynamic-equilibrium/.

Abedon, ST 2016, Dynamic Equilibrium, Biology as Poetry, viewed 13th March 2018, http://www.biologyaspoetry.com/terms/dynamic_equilibrium.html.

OpenLearn (n.d), 2.4 Dynamic Equilibrium, The Open University, viewed 13th March 2018, http://www.open.edu/openlearn/nature-environment/the-environment/environmental-studies/understanding-the-environment-flows-and-feedback/content-section-2.4.

Explore this topic further#

• Scholarpedia article{.link-ext target=”_blank”}
• Biology Dictionary’s definition and example of Dynamic Equilibrium{.link-ext target=”_blank” }

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Disclaimer#

This content has been contributed by a student as part of a learning activity.
If there are inaccuracies, or opportunities for significant improvement on this topic, feedback is welcome on how to improve the resource.
You can improve articles on this topic as a student in "Unravelling Complexity", or by including the amendments in an email to: Chris.Browne@anu.edu.au

Note: This entry was created in 2018, when the task was to “summarise a key reading”, and so may not represent a good example to model current primer entries on.

In a fast-paced, frequently changing world, equilibrium is the balance that provides the stability that can be found within many of the smallest to the largest elements of our environment. In a system that is not fixed this balance is referred to as dynamic equilibrium due to the changes that are occurring within the system to achieve and maintain that balance.

Dynamic equilibrium determines life, as we know it. The balance that results from dynamic equilibrium regulates the well-being of every living thing on our planet and that of the Earth itself. Systems that exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium maintain a relatively constant pattern or state by counteracting changes as they occur, providing stability and health to that system (see Attractors). These systems can be incredibly complex involving many factors intricately dependent on the behaviours of a multitude of other components.

If the changes that occurred to each of the components of a system were added together and graphed over time, the system would be in a state of dynamic equilibrium when the resulting line were parallel with the x-axis, or time, (see diagram). At these points, changes in the system will have been counteracted such as to equate to there being no net change within that system. A balanced system would deviate little from this line, however, as the path of the line is dependent on all contributory components, so too is the dynamic equilibrium of the system.

The cells within a human body are an example of a system in dynamic equilibrium. They regulate our body temperature, blood sugar levels, metabolism and more. Another example of a system in dynamic equilibrium is the predator-prey relationship within an ecosystem. The number of predators or prey in a system directly influences the population growth and decline of the other, and the population of both is dependent on a diversity of other contributing elements within their ecosystem.

Generally, small changes to the normal dynamics can be absorbed by the system and the line will gravitate back to its original path (see Entropy). However, any large change will influence a system in a potentially irreversible way. If the dynamic equilibrium in our cells failed, our lives would likely be over. In a predator-prey dynamic, if either population were to disappear the implications would not only affect the population of the other but would also reverberate through the entire ecosystem.

This leads to the uncertainty beyond the stability of dynamic equilibrium. It is likely that given a change with sufficiently large implications a system would find a new stability, or a new normal. However, this equilibrium could not possibly be as it were before that change simply because the very fabric of the system would have been altered.

This is particularly significant if the system is a major component of a much larger system, such as that of our planet. This is not to say that a different state of dynamic equilibrium would be better or worse, although it is worth considering the intricate complexities of our current state of equilibrium and appreciate the brilliance that is life, as we know it.

References#

Izhikevich, EM 2007, Equilibrium, Scholarpedia, viewed 13th March 2018, http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Equilibrium.

Li, L 2014, Dynamic Equilibrium, in Biology Dictionary, L Li (ed.), viewed 13th March 2018 https://biologydictionary.net/dynamic-equilibrium/.

Abedon, ST 2016, Dynamic Equilibrium, Biology as Poetry, viewed 13th March 2018, http://www.biologyaspoetry.com/terms/dynamic_equilibrium.html.

OpenLearn (n.d), 2.4 Dynamic Equilibrium, The Open University, viewed 13th March 2018, http://www.open.edu/openlearn/nature-environment/the-environment/environmental-studies/understanding-the-environment-flows-and-feedback/content-section-2.4.