Physics · Dynamics
Swayhold
A recognisable form or function persists through continual adjustment
Definition
Mechanism
As conditions or internal dynamics vary, ongoing adjustments contribute to keeping a form or function, and the same underlying method can make those adjustments without being replaced. Both a continuing form or function and adjustments that sustain it must be present; mere change, mere persistence, or accidental similarity across states is not an instance, and a rigid structure that withstands a disturbance without changing is not one either.
Invariants
- A form or function continues over the interval considered.
- Ongoing adjustments contribute to its continuation.
Risks
Failure modes
Adjustment read as instability
visible adjustment that sustains continuity is called instability.
Survival read as adaptation
anything that survives is called adaptive, even when no adjustment sustains it.
Steadiness read as headroom
a form held steady by adjustment is taken to show spare capacity, when the adjustments may be close to their limit.
Relationships
Root pattern: builds on nothing in this library.
Nothing in this library builds on this pattern yet.
Reference