Complex system facts for kids
A complex system is one where smaller elements make complex things happen. These smaller elements can be simple elements or they can be complex systems within themselves. Any such complex elements can be interrelated in simple or complex ways and may be hard to identify as distinct.
Contents
Abstract
'Complex systems' is a field which studies the common properties of systems considered complex in nature, society and science. It is also called complex systems theory, complexity science, study of complex systems and/or sciences of complexity.
Problems
The key problems of such systems are difficulties with their formal modeling and simulation. From such perspective, in different research contexts complex systems are defined on the base of their different attributes.
Images for kids
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A sample solution in the Lorenz attractor when ρ = 28, σ = 10, and β = 8/3
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Gosper's Glider Gun creating "gliders" in the cellular automaton Conway's Game of Life
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Graphical representation of alternative stable states and the direction of critical slowing down prior to a critical transition (taken from Lever et al. 2020). Top panels (a) indicate stability landscapes at different conditions. Middle panels (b) indicate the rates of change akin to the slope of the stability landscapes, and bottom panels (c) indicate a recovery from a perturbation towards the system's future state (c.I) and in another direction (c.II).
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A perspective on the development of complexity science (see reference for readable version)
See also
In Spanish: Sistema complejo para niños
