closed systems
No external exchange
A closed system exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings—unlike an open system, which exchanges both, or an isolated system, which exchanges neither.
The term appears in thermodynamics, ecology, and organizational theory.
Figuratively, a closed system describes any self-contained environment resistant to outside influence: The company operated as a closed system, ignoring market feedback.
Quantified chaos in systems
- energyPower to do work
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- equilibriumState of balance
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
efficiency · work · insulation · reversible · irreversible · Carnot · enthalpy · second law
Closed to prevent entry
- self-containedWhole without external parts
- hermeticImpenetrably closed off
- impermeableCannot be penetrated
- encapsulatedContained within a covering
insulated · autonomous · contained · bounded · finite · restricted · barrier · airtight
Returned response data
- loopCurve closing on itself
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- cyberneticsCommunication and control science
thermostat · set point · steady state · self-regulation · homeostasis · negative feedback · positive feedback · governor
Glass-walled growing enclosure
- biosphereAll life on Earth
- aquariumTank for keeping fish
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- biogeochemicalLife-geology-chemistry interactions
food web · decomposition · producer · consumer · energy flow · vivarium · microcosm · bottle garden
entropy
Quantified chaos in systems
- energyPower to do work
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- equilibriumState of balance
conservation · efficiency · work · insulation · reversible · irreversible · Carnot · enthalpy · second law · boundary
sealed
Closed to prevent entry
- self-containedWhole without external parts
- hermeticImpenetrably closed off
- impermeableCannot be penetrated
encapsulated · insulated · autonomous · contained · bounded · finite · restricted · barrier · airtight · watertight
feedback
Returned response data
- loopCurve closing on itself
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- stabilityResistance to displacement
cybernetics · thermostat · set point · steady state · self-regulation · homeostasis · negative feedback · positive feedback · governor · sensor
terrarium
Glass-walled growing enclosure
- biosphereAll life on Earth
- aquariumTank for keeping fish
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
biogeochemical · food web · decomposition · producer · consumer · energy flow · vivarium · microcosm · bottle garden · ecosphere
- thermodynamicsentropy, enthalpy, heat transfer, free energy, heat capacity
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
- CyberneticsNorbert Wiener, feedback loops, control systems, self-regulation, homeostasis