Back to Topic 1.3 — Equilibrium, stability and resilience

1.3.1ESS SL60 flashcards

Loops

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Question

What is a causal loop diagram (CLD)?

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All 60 Flashcards — Loops

Card 1example

Question

What is a causal loop diagram (CLD)?

Answer

A diagram showing cause-and-effect links between variables, forming feedback loops over time.

💡 Hint

Variables + arrows + loops.

Card 2example

Question

What is a feedback loop?

Answer

A chain where a change causes effects that feed back to influence the original change.

💡 Hint

Result becomes cause.

Card 3example

Question

What is a causal loop diagram (CLD)?

Answer

A diagram showing cause-and-effect links between variables, forming feedback loops over time.

💡 Hint

Variables + arrows + loops.

Card 4example

Question

How can inequality form a positive feedback loop?

Answer

Wealth enables investment and influence, producing more wealth, widening the gap unless interrupted.

💡 Hint

Wealth → more wealth.

Card 5example

Question

What is a transfer in systems?

Answer

Movement of matter or energy without changing its form.

💡 Hint

Same form, new place.

Card 6example

Question

What is stable (steady-state) equilibrium?

Answer

A condition where inputs and outputs are balanced so the system stays roughly the same over time.

💡 Hint

Inputs = outputs.

Card 7example

Question

What is the tourism multiplier effect?

Answer

A positive feedback loop where tourism growth generates more income and investment, attracting even more tourism.

💡 Hint

Reinforcing loop.

Card 8example

Question

What is stable (steady-state) equilibrium?

Answer

A condition where inputs and outputs are balanced so the system stays roughly the same over time.

💡 Hint

Inputs = outputs.

Card 9example

Question

What is the tourism multiplier effect?

Answer

A positive feedback loop where tourism growth generates more income and investment, attracting even more tourism.

💡 Hint

Reinforcing loop.

Card 10example

Question

What is a transfer in systems?

Answer

Movement of matter or energy without changing its form.

💡 Hint

Same form, new place.

Card 11example

Question

What is a feedback loop?

Answer

A chain where a change causes effects that feed back to influence the original change.

💡 Hint

Result becomes cause.

Card 12example

Question

How can inequality form a positive feedback loop?

Answer

Wealth enables investment and influence, producing more wealth, widening the gap unless interrupted.

💡 Hint

Wealth → more wealth.

Card 13example

Question

What is negative feedback?

Answer

Negative feedback reduces change and helps stabilise a system.

💡 Hint

Negative = stabilising.

Card 14example

Question

What is a transformation in systems?

Answer

A change in form, state, or chemical nature of matter or energy.

💡 Hint

Form changes.

Card 15example

Question

What is a transformation in systems?

Answer

A change in form, state, or chemical nature of matter or energy.

💡 Hint

Form changes.

Card 16example

Question

In a CLD, what does a + sign mean?

Answer

A positive relationship: the variables change in the same direction.

💡 Hint

Same direction.

Card 17example

Question

What is negative feedback?

Answer

Negative feedback reduces change and helps stabilise a system.

💡 Hint

Negative = stabilising.

Card 18example

Question

Give one stable equilibrium example.

Answer

A mature forest: growth and death balance so overall biomass stays similar.

💡 Hint

Balanced flows.

Card 19example

Question

Give one stable equilibrium example.

Answer

A mature forest: growth and death balance so overall biomass stays similar.

💡 Hint

Balanced flows.

Card 20example

Question

What is the key exam step when explaining a feedback loop?

Answer

Start change → chain of effects → show the loop closes → state if reinforcing or balancing.

💡 Hint

4-step method.

Card 21example

Question

Name one benefit of the tourism multiplier.

Answer

Creates jobs and income, and can fund infrastructure or conservation.

💡 Hint

Benefit = money/jobs.

Card 22example

Question

Name one benefit of the tourism multiplier.

Answer

Creates jobs and income, and can fund infrastructure or conservation.

💡 Hint

Benefit = money/jobs.

Card 23example

Question

In a CLD, what does a + sign mean?

Answer

A positive relationship: the variables change in the same direction.

💡 Hint

Same direction.

Card 24example

Question

What is the key exam step when explaining a feedback loop?

Answer

Start change → chain of effects → show the loop closes → state if reinforcing or balancing.

💡 Hint

4-step method.

Card 25example

Question

Give one negative feedback example.

Answer

Body temperature control: too hot → sweating → cooling → back to normal.

💡 Hint

Any stabilising loop.

Card 26example

Question

Name one environmental risk of uncontrolled tourism growth.

Answer

Higher water/energy demand, more waste/pollution, and habitat loss from development.

💡 Hint

More tourists → more pressure.

Card 27example

Question

What is a feedback delay?

Answer

A time gap between a change and when its effects are seen in the system.

💡 Hint

Cause-effect not immediate.

Card 28example

Question

What is a feedback delay?

Answer

A time gap between a change and when its effects are seen in the system.

💡 Hint

Cause-effect not immediate.

Card 29example

Question

Give one negative feedback example.

Answer

Body temperature control: too hot → sweating → cooling → back to normal.

💡 Hint

Any stabilising loop.

Card 30example

Question

In a CLD, what does a − sign mean?

Answer

A negative relationship: the variables change in opposite directions.

💡 Hint

Opposite direction.

Card 31example

Question

Define positive vs negative feedback (one sentence each).

Answer

Positive feedback amplifies change; negative feedback counteracts change and stabilises the system.

💡 Hint

Amplify vs stabilise.

Card 32example

Question

In a CLD, what does a − sign mean?

Answer

A negative relationship: the variables change in opposite directions.

💡 Hint

Opposite direction.

Card 33example

Question

Define positive vs negative feedback (one sentence each).

Answer

Positive feedback amplifies change; negative feedback counteracts change and stabilises the system.

💡 Hint

Amplify vs stabilise.

Card 34example

Question

Name one environmental risk of uncontrolled tourism growth.

Answer

Higher water/energy demand, more waste/pollution, and habitat loss from development.

💡 Hint

More tourists → more pressure.

Card 35example

Question

Negative feedback does what to systems?

Answer

It stabilises systems by reducing change and helping maintain equilibrium.

💡 Hint

Stabilises.

Card 36example

Question

Negative feedback does what to systems?

Answer

It stabilises systems by reducing change and helping maintain equilibrium.

💡 Hint

Stabilises.

Card 37example

Question

Why is the tourism multiplier a positive feedback loop?

Answer

Because the output (tourism income/infrastructure) feeds back to increase the input (tourist attraction).

💡 Hint

Output amplifies input.

Card 38example

Question

What is positive feedback?

Answer

Positive feedback amplifies the original change and pushes the system further from balance.

💡 Hint

Positive = amplifying.

Card 39example

Question

Why can feedback delays cause oscillations?

Answer

People or processes overcorrect because the system responds slowly, leading to repeated over- and under-shooting.

💡 Hint

Delay → overcorrect.

Card 40example

Question

What does “reinforcing” vs “balancing” mean in CLDs?

Answer

Reinforcing loops amplify change; balancing loops resist change and stabilise the system.

💡 Hint

R amplifies; B stabilises.

Card 41example

Question

Give one reinforcing (positive) feedback example in nature.

Answer

Eutrophication: more nutrients → more algae → plant death/decomposition → more available nutrients.

💡 Hint

Reinforcing loop.

Card 42example

Question

Positive feedback does what to systems?

Answer

It amplifies change and can push systems towards tipping points.

💡 Hint

Amplifies.

Card 43example

Question

What is positive feedback?

Answer

Positive feedback amplifies the original change and pushes the system further from balance.

💡 Hint

Positive = amplifying.

Card 44example

Question

Why can feedback delays cause oscillations?

Answer

People or processes overcorrect because the system responds slowly, leading to repeated over- and under-shooting.

💡 Hint

Delay → overcorrect.

Card 45example

Question

Why is the tourism multiplier a positive feedback loop?

Answer

Because the output (tourism income/infrastructure) feeds back to increase the input (tourist attraction).

💡 Hint

Output amplifies input.

Card 46example

Question

Give one reinforcing (positive) feedback example in nature.

Answer

Eutrophication: more nutrients → more algae → plant death/decomposition → more available nutrients.

💡 Hint

Reinforcing loop.

Card 47example

Question

What does “reinforcing” vs “balancing” mean in CLDs?

Answer

Reinforcing loops amplify change; balancing loops resist change and stabilise the system.

💡 Hint

R amplifies; B stabilises.

Card 48example

Question

Positive feedback does what to systems?

Answer

It amplifies change and can push systems towards tipping points.

💡 Hint

Amplifies.

Card 49example

Question

Why are tipping points important in ESS?

Answer

Crossing a tipping point can shift a system into a new equilibrium that may be difficult to reverse.

💡 Hint

Threshold → new state.

Card 50example

Question

How could you add negative feedback to manage tourism sustainably?

Answer

Use limits such as visitor caps, zoning, pricing/taxes, and protected areas to reduce growth pressure.

💡 Hint

Controls = negative feedback.

Card 51example

Question

Give one balancing (negative) feedback example in nature.

Answer

Predator–prey: prey increases → predators increase → prey decreases → predators decrease.

💡 Hint

Balancing loop.

Card 52example

Question

How do you score well on CLD questions?

Answer

Name variables, follow arrows, explain +/− links, and state whether the loop is reinforcing or balancing.

💡 Hint

4-step CLD method.

Card 53example

Question

Give one balancing (negative) feedback example in nature.

Answer

Predator–prey: prey increases → predators increase → prey decreases → predators decrease.

💡 Hint

Balancing loop.

Card 54example

Question

How do you score well on CLD questions?

Answer

Name variables, follow arrows, explain +/− links, and state whether the loop is reinforcing or balancing.

💡 Hint

4-step CLD method.

Card 55example

Question

What is a tipping point?

Answer

A threshold where a small change triggers a large, often hard-to-reverse shift to a new equilibrium.

💡 Hint

Threshold → big shift.

Card 56example

Question

Give one positive feedback example.

Answer

Ice-albedo: ice melts → darker surface → more heat absorbed → more melting.

💡 Hint

Amplifies change.

Card 57example

Question

What is a tipping point?

Answer

A threshold where a small change triggers a large, often hard-to-reverse shift to a new equilibrium.

💡 Hint

Threshold → big shift.

Card 58example

Question

Give one positive feedback example.

Answer

Ice-albedo: ice melts → darker surface → more heat absorbed → more melting.

💡 Hint

Amplifies change.

Card 59example

Question

Why are tipping points important in ESS?

Answer

Crossing a tipping point can shift a system into a new equilibrium that may be difficult to reverse.

💡 Hint

Threshold → new state.

Card 60example

Question

How could you add negative feedback to manage tourism sustainably?

Answer

Use limits such as visitor caps, zoning, pricing/taxes, and protected areas to reduce growth pressure.

💡 Hint

Controls = negative feedback.

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Topic 1.3 hub

Equilibrium, stability and resilience

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