Chaos (physics)

Chaos (physics)

Chaos in physics is often considered analogous to thermodynamic entropy. Chaos is a poetic or metaphysical concept evoking a sense of discord, whereas entropy is a concretely defined function of a physical system. See entropy for the mathematical quantification of the disorder in a system.The term "chaos", as commonly used, denotes utter confusion, an incomprehensible and heterogeneous mess. This intuitive notion is at odds with the famous Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that entropy cannot decrease in a closed system. Maximized entropy always corresponds to apparent in a system. Any random disturbance of a homogeneous system results in no meaningful change, therefore scientists will say the randomness, i.e. chaos, is maximized. Such systems are observed as being isotropic.

As with any scientific concept or mathematical abstraction, entropy may not be equally applicable in every situation. For example, it is unknown whether protons may remain forever free and unchanged, or whether they are subject to destruction by cosmological randomness.

Chaos theory describes the behavior of certain nonlinear dynamical systems that under certain conditions exhibit a phenomenon known as chaos. Among the characteristics of chaotic systems, described below, is sensitivity to initial conditions (popularly referred to as the butterfly effect). As a result of this sensitivity, the behavior of systems that exhibit chaos appears to be random, even though the system is deterministic in the sense that it is well defined and contains no random parameters.

However, chaos as defined in physics is strongly contrasted with the common definition of chaos. Chaotic systems, with no central control, are able to create "order"; that is to say, they may form a pattern that humans recognize. Biological systems are well-known examples. Potential applications are found in nanotechnology, where self-assembling systems have been developed.

ee also

*Self-organization
*Evolutionary theory.
*Attractor

References

External links

* [http://www.chaoskit.com] Scientio's ChaosKit product performs online analysis and prediction of Chaotic time series. Access is provided free online via a web service and graphic interface.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chaos Quantique — Le « chaos quantique » est un raccourci qui désigne un champ de recherches ouvert dans les années 1970 qui est issu des succès de la théorie du chaos en dynamique hamiltonienne classique. Ce champ de recherche tente essentiellement de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Physics — (Greek: physis φύσις), in everyday terms, is the science of matter [R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, M. Sands (1963), The Feynman Lectures on Physics , ISBN 0 201 02116 1 Hard cover. p.1 1 Feynman begins with the atomic hypothesis.] and its motion …   Wikipedia

  • Chaos theory in organizational development — refers to a subset of chaos theory which incorporates principles of quantum mechanics and presents them in a complex systems environment. Contents 1 Background 2 Elements of organization 2.1 Self organization …   Wikipedia

  • Chaos — (  /ˈkeɪ …   Wikipedia

  • Chaos (disambiguation) — Chaos ,(derived from the Ancient Greek Χάος),refers to unpredictability, and is the antithetical concept of cosmos.Chaos may also refer to:* Chaos theory, a branch of mathematics and physics that deals with the behavior of certain nonlinear… …   Wikipedia

  • Chaos Computer Club — (CCC) Der Chaosknoten Zweck: Der Club fördert und unterstützt Vorhaben der Bildung und Volksbildung in Hinsicht neuer technischer Entwicklungen, sowie Kunst und Kultur im Sinne der Präambel oder führt diese durch. Vorsitz: Peter Fr …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Chaos: Making a New Science —   Mandelbrot set on cover of ebook edition …   Wikipedia

  • Physics of Plasmas — Обложка первого выпуска журнала Специализация: Физика плазмы Периодичность: ежемесячно Сокращённое название: Phys. Plasmas (PoP) …   Википедия

  • Physics Today — Специализация: Популяризация физики Периодичность: ежемесячно Сокращённое название: Phys. Today Язык: английский …   Википедия

  • Physics of Fluids — Специализация: гидродинамика Периодичность: ежемесячно Сокращённое название: Phys. Fluids Язык: английский Адрес редакции: 2 Huntington Quadrangle Melville …   Википедия

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”