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1.3 Equilibrium and Feedback - Review

Equilibrium and Feedback Review

This is another incredibly important topic and students absolutely need to learn the definitions of positive and negative feedback. They are guaranteed on every exam. These are also fundamental concepts that can be used to explain almost everything in ESS. Once you have the definition, then you need to be able to give examples. First learn some examples but then try to apply this model to other situations and see if you can explain that to a friend. A positive feedback loop should always results in an amplification (an increase) in change - usually something just keeps getting worse. A negative feedback loop should always dampen down change and return the system to its equilibrium.

Here are the answers to the review questions. Equilibrium and Feedback Review - Answers 

They can be released to students via student access.

1. What is an equilibrium?

2. Explain how humans are impacting the equilibria of systems?

3. Define positive feedback

4. Define negative feedback

5. Describe an example of positive feedback

6. Describe an example of negative feedback

7. What is an alternative stable state?

8. What is a tipping point and how does it occur?

9. Describe a non-catastrophic alternative stable state formation

10. Give an example of a catastrophic tipping point leading to an alternative stable state.

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