Thanks for clarifying. I saw a few definitions that were less precise: wikipedia describes negative feedback as ”...when some function of the output of a system...is fed back in a manner that tends to reduce the fluctuations in the output, whether caused by changes in the input or by other disturbances.” I think I was confused by skipping the tends part, and applying the resulting definition to the shower example.
You’re right on the explosion.
So “negative feedback” does not imply “stable point”. Although “stable point” presumably implies “negative feedback” somewhere?
So “negative feedback” does not imply “stable point”. Although “stable point” presumably implies “negative feedback” somewhere?
Yes, with an emphasis on the ‘somewhere.’ (Is it really ‘feedback’ if the restorative force is already inherent in the system? Well, that depends on how you look at things, but I’d generally say yes.)
Thanks for clarifying. I saw a few definitions that were less precise: wikipedia describes negative feedback as ”...when some function of the output of a system...is fed back in a manner that tends to reduce the fluctuations in the output, whether caused by changes in the input or by other disturbances.” I think I was confused by skipping the tends part, and applying the resulting definition to the shower example.
You’re right on the explosion.
So “negative feedback” does not imply “stable point”. Although “stable point” presumably implies “negative feedback” somewhere?
Yes, with an emphasis on the ‘somewhere.’ (Is it really ‘feedback’ if the restorative force is already inherent in the system? Well, that depends on how you look at things, but I’d generally say yes.)