and the butterfly effect
English presentation
By: Assaad Moawad
Index
Introduction
History
Applications
Movies
Quotes and moral conclusion
Presentation by: Assaad Moawad CHAOS THEORY Slide: 2
Part 1 - Introduction Butterfly effect
When a tiny variation changes the results of a system
dramatically (over a period of time), this sensitivity is
what we call the butterfly effect.
Why was it called like that? Answer in the history section.
Presentation by: Assaad Moawad CHAOS THEORY Slide: 3
Linear (Normal) System
We can guess very precisely its behavior.
Ex: Almost all systems we use are linear
Random Systems
We cannot guess at all! Ex: Throwing the dice.
Chaotic Systems
Deterministic with no random, but unpredictable on long
term because they are very complex and sensitive.
Seems to be illogical and paradoxal?
Part 1 - Introduction 3 kinds of systems
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Input Output of a
normal system
Output of a
random system
Output of a
chaotic system
5 22.5 4 10
5.001 Can you predict? Can you predict? Can you predict?
System
Input
Output
Presentation by: Assaad Moawad CHAOS THEORY Slide: 5
Part 1 - Introduction 3 kinds of systems
Input Output of a
normal system
Output of a
random system
Output of a
chaotic system
5 22.5 4 10
5.001 22.503 25 (??) 37 (??)
10 Can you predict? Can you predict? Can you predict?
System
Input
Output
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Part 1 - Introduction 3 kinds of systems
Input Output of a
normal system
Output of a
random system
Output of a
chaotic system
5 22.5 4 10
5.001 22.503 25 37
10 45 (value doubled) 9 (??) 29(??)
5 Can you predict? Can you predict? Can you predict?
System
Input
Output
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Part 1 - Introduction 3 kinds of systems
Input Output of a
normal system
Output of a
random system
Output of a
chaotic system
5 22.5 4 (??) 10
5.001 22.503 25 37
10 45 9 29
5 22.5 46(??) 10
System
Input
Output
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So thats how the chaotic system is:
1. Deterministic
2. Highly sensitive (butterfly effect)
3. Unpredictable on the long term
Part 1 - Introduction 3 kinds of systems
Part 2 - History of the Theory
Edward Lorenz in 1961 used a numerical computer model
to run a weather prediction.
Lorenz was modeling the atmosphere with a set of three
simple partial differential equations.
One day he wanted to restart his computations where he
ended the day before. The previous days last output was
0.506127. He entered 0.506 expecting to continue on.
The result was a completely different weather scenario!!!
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This is what he observed:
Small difference
of the input:
0.506 instead
of 0.506127
Extreme
Differences
of the output
Part 2 - History of the Theory
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After a period of time
In 1972, Philip Merilees quoted Does the flap of a
butterflys wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?
This is why we call it butterfly effect.
Part 2 - History of the Theory
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1- The weather: Can you predict weather of the next year?
2- The stock market: Can you predict exchange rates?
3- Biology: Can you predict how a virus is going to spread?
4- Physics: Can you predict the motion of gas in vacuum?
5- Evolution of life: small changes in the chemistry of the
early Earth gives rise to life.
Part 3 - Applications
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Part 3 - Applications
6- Fractals: Even art has been touched with the chaos
theory: A fractal is generally a rough or fragmented
geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which
is a reduced-size copy of the whole, a property called "self-
similarity. Fractals are often considered to be infinitely
complex.
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7- Aviation safety: The Swiss cheese model.
The holes represent individual weaknesses and are
continually varying in size and position in all slices.
The system produces failures when all of the holes in each
of the slices momentarily align.
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Part 3 - Applications
8- Highway traffic jams: Unpredictable and very complex
system.
9- Psychology: A small psychological fact in childhood
can lead to problems or suicide in adolescence.
10- Time travel: The butterfly effect theory presents
scenarios involving time travel with "what if " scenarios.
This fact attracts Hollywood which is always searching
for basis to build stories.
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Part 3 - Applications
Part 4 - Movies
Presentation by: Assaad Moawad CHAOS THEORY Slide: 16
Presentation by: Assaad Moawad CHAOS THEORY Slide: 17
Part 4 - Movies
Part 5 Quotes inspired from the theory
You can stay at home and be happily introspective or you
can make the choice, step out, and be the Butterfly that
begins the tempest that changes the world. (John Sanford)
Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change
your life forever. (Keri Russell)
Everything we do affects other people.
Presentation by: Assaad Moawad CHAOS THEORY Slide: 18
Thank you for your attention.
Assaad Moawad
