ATTRACTOR Meaning and
Definition
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An attractor is a concept stemming from the field of dynamical systems, predominantly used in mathematics and physics, but also applicable to other disciplines such as biology and psychology. It refers to a set of values or states towards which a system tends to converge or move over time.
In mathematics, an attractor is often represented by a subset of a phase space, which is a conceptual space that describes all possible states of a system. It may appear as a point, a curve, a surface, or even a complex structure. Regardless of its form, an attractor exerts a powerful influence on the system, pulling it towards certain states or trajectories.
Attractors are classified based on their stability. A fixed-point or point attractor is stable if, once the system arrives close to it, it remains there. A limit cycle, represented by a closed curve, is another type of attractor that describes periodic motion. Chaotic attractors are characterized by complex, non-repetitive trajectories. These can arise from systems with high sensitivity to initial conditions, as in the famous "butterfly effect."
Beyond mathematics, the concept of an attractor has been adopted in various fields to explain natural phenomena. In physics, it helps describe the behavior of physical systems like pendulums or planets. In biology, it helps understand the stability of ecosystems. In psychology, it assists in explaining patterns of human behavior or thought. In all these domains, the notion of an attractor serves as a fundamental building block for understanding the dynamics and order inherent in complex systems.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for ATTRACTOR
- zttractor
- sttractor
- wttractor
- qttractor
- artractor
- aftractor
- agtractor
- aytractor
- a6tractor
- a5tractor
- atrractor
- atfractor
- atgractor
- atyractor
- at6ractor
- at5ractor
- atteactor
- attdactor
- attfactor
- attracor
- attrector
- atracktor
Etymology of ATTRACTOR
The word "attractor" comes from the Latin verb "attractus", which is the past participle of "attrahere", meaning "to draw or pull towards". The Latin term is a combination of "ad", meaning "to", and "trahere", meaning "to draw or drag". The word "attractor" emerged in the English language in the mid-17th century and is used to describe something that has the power to draw or attract objects or entities towards itself. In the context of mathematics or physics, an attractor refers to a point, set, or region that attracts nearby points or orbits in a system.
Similar spelling words for ATTRACTOR
- atrichornis,
- at rest,
- attractive,
- atrocity,
- ataractic,
- attractable,
- atrocious,
- attract,
- Attracter,
- attractively,
- attraction,
- atrociously.
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