equilibria
Points of balance
Equilibria is the plural of equilibrium—a state of balance where opposing forces or influences cancel out.
The term appears most often in scientific contexts: chemical equilibria describe reactions where forward and reverse processes occur at equal rates, while economic equilibria represent markets where supply meets demand.
The system can settle into multiple equilibria depending on initial conditions.
Equal distribution of weight
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- fulcrumLever's balance point
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
tipping point · calibration · adjustment · offsetting · neutralization · counterbalance · centering · leveling
Of heat-energy science
- chemicalSubstance with defined composition
- dynamicActive and changing
- steady stateUnchanging system condition
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
reaction · entropy · kinetics · dissipative · reversible · metastable · oscillating · catalytic
Without motion or change
- stationaryNot in motion
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- restCessation of activity
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
plateau · unchanging · suspended · frozen · locked · fixed · settled · dormant
Secure and unchanging
- unstableProne to sudden change
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- robustnessResistance to failure
- perturbationState of being unsettled
restoring force · attractor · basin · convergence · divergence · bifurcation · tipping · threshold
Equal on both sides
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
- bilateralInvolving two parties
- radialEmanating from center
- reflectionReturned light or thought
invariance · proportion · geometric · mirror · rotational · translational · conserved · parity
English-origin family name
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
- payoffCulminating benefit received
- zero-sumBalanced gains and losses
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
competitive · optimal · rational · players · coalition · bargaining · coordination
equipoise
Equal distribution of weight
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- fulcrumLever's balance point
poise · tipping point · calibration · adjustment · offsetting · neutralization · counterbalance · centering · leveling · distribution
thermodynamic
Of heat-energy science
- chemicalSubstance with defined composition
- dynamicActive and changing
- steady stateUnchanging system condition
phase · reaction · entropy · kinetics · dissipative · reversible · metastable · oscillating · catalytic · saturated
static
Without motion or change
- stationaryNot in motion
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- restCessation of activity
standstill · plateau · unchanging · suspended · frozen · locked · fixed · settled · dormant · inert
stable
Secure and unchanging
- unstableProne to sudden change
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- robustnessResistance to failure
perturbation · restoring force · attractor · basin · convergence · divergence · bifurcation · tipping · threshold · feedback
symmetric
Equal on both sides
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
- bilateralInvolving two parties
- radialEmanating from center
reflection · invariance · proportion · geometric · mirror · rotational · translational · conserved · parity
Nash
English-origin family name
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
- payoffCulminating benefit received
- zero-sumBalanced gains and losses
cooperative · competitive · optimal · rational · players · coalition · bargaining · coordination
- equilibriumbalance, steady state, stasis, stability, poise
- physical chemistrythermodynamics, kinetics, reaction rates, activation energy, entropy
- dynamical systemsattractors, attractor, chaos theory, fixed points, bifurcation
equilibriainstabilities
Conditions lacking equilibrium
disequilibria · instability · disequilibrium · flux · turbulence
equilibriaimbalances
Lack of proper proportion
disproportions · asymmetries · inequalities · disparities · unevenness
- static equilibriumZero net force, no motion
- thermal equilibriumEqual temperature throughout system
- dynamic equilibriumBalance through opposing changes
- Hardy-Weinberg equilibriumStable allele ratios, no evolution
- stable equilibriumSelf-correcting balanced state
- unstable equilibriumBalance lost if nudged
equilibrium, disequilibrium, equilibrate, equilibrated, equilibrating, equilibriums