For the examples at the end: Nuclear fission would be positive feedback as the energy of increasing fission would create even more fission. This may become a negative feedback loop and stabilize as the rate of fission increases the amount of fissionable material will decrease to the point at which the fission "burns itself out."
Thermostats are a classic example of a negative feedback loop where as the heat increases the thermostat sends the signal for the furnace to decrease its output. As the temperature decreases the thermostat sends a signal to the furnace to turn on.
I am not sure how to categorize the Sword and Shield activity. I think each person's interaction is a separate feedback loop so the behavior of the system is the result of the combined result of many loops. I am having a hard time characterizing the interaction in the language of more or less. Perhaps in one way it is a positive loop as the more the individuals move causes more movement by the other individuals to adjust appropriately.
For Termites forming mounds I think there would be a series of different feedback loops. As the termite population grows the size of the mound gets bigger (positive loop). As the mound gets bigger the termites might get further apart decreasing interaction or the temperature of the mound which would be a negative loop. As the mound and population gets larger it takes more energy and resources to maintain which negatively affects the ability of each ant to get what the need which would be a negative loop.
Agreed, many systems have several types of loops operating at once. In ecosystems there are both positive and negative feedback loops. Positive (or reinforcing loops) drive the population up as more individuals have more babies and so on. Negative (or balancing loops) are seen as increase in predators causes a decrease in prey population.
We'll have to play swords and shields and several of its variations to get a feel for the feedback loops involved. I wish there were an easy way to play it remotely.
Comments
For the examples at the end: Nuclear fission would be positive feedback as the energy of increasing fission would create even more fission. This may become a negative feedback loop and stabilize as the rate of fission increases the amount of fissionable material will decrease to the point at which the fission "burns itself out."
Thermostats are a classic example of a negative feedback loop where as the heat increases the thermostat sends the signal for the furnace to decrease its output. As the temperature decreases the thermostat sends a signal to the furnace to turn on.
I am not sure how to categorize the Sword and Shield activity. I think each person's interaction is a separate feedback loop so the behavior of the system is the result of the combined result of many loops. I am having a hard time characterizing the interaction in the language of more or less. Perhaps in one way it is a positive loop as the more the individuals move causes more movement by the other individuals to adjust appropriately.
For Termites forming mounds I think there would be a series of different feedback loops. As the termite population grows the size of the mound gets bigger (positive loop). As the mound gets bigger the termites might get further apart decreasing interaction or the temperature of the mound which would be a negative loop. As the mound and population gets larger it takes more energy and resources to maintain which negatively affects the ability of each ant to get what the need which would be a negative loop.
Agreed, many systems have several types of loops operating at once. In ecosystems there are both positive and negative feedback loops. Positive (or reinforcing loops) drive the population up as more individuals have more babies and so on. Negative (or balancing loops) are seen as increase in predators causes a decrease in prey population.
We'll have to play swords and shields and several of its variations to get a feel for the feedback loops involved. I wish there were an easy way to play it remotely.
--Irene