FLOW (Linear)
Charles François (2004). FLOW (Linear), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1300.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1300 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
A flow whose intensity is directly proportional to the difference of level or gradient between the source and the sink.
In those cases in which the gradient remains stable, the flow remains steady and the system that uses it is able to maintain its organization, or heterogeneity, thanks to the steadily absorbed resources. Under such conditions, the system evolves toward a state in which it maintains its properties through time: the so-called steady state.
Under the steady state regime, the specific production of entropy tends to a minimum compatible with the nature of the system's organization.