Looking for a name for a natural phenomenon

In summary, the conversation explored the existence of cyclical phenomena in nature that follow a similar pattern of slow buildup and sudden discharge, such as farting, yawning, earthquakes, capacitor charging and discharge, and Monjolo. The initial question was whether there is a specific name for such phenomena, which led to a discussion on the terms "periodic" and "sporadic." Eventually, the conclusion was that these phenomena can be divided into categories of random, deterministic, and chaotic. The conversation also delved into the idea that there may be other properties that contribute to the different types and categories of these phenomena. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the complexity and variety of cyclical processes in nature.
  • #1
Frenemy90210
There are many cyclical phenomena occurring in a nature which have a similar pattern, such as:
  • Farting, Yawning : (Slow buildup of gas over time and then sudden discharge of the gas)
  • earthquake
  • Slow capacitor charging and then sudden discharge
  • Monjolo (Water powered hammer) :
  • Sectarion riots/wars


Is there any name for such a phenomena ?
 
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  • #2
Frenemy90210 said:
Is there any name for such a phenomena ?

Do you mean the sudden release of the accumulated potential energy?
I don't understand what pattern you mean.
 
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  • #3
Ivan Samsonov said:
Do you mean the sudden release of the accumulated potential energy?
I don't understand what pattern you mean.

Yes but continually repetitive, not one-time occurrence.
 
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  • #4
Frenemy90210 said:
Yes but continually repetitive, not one-time occurrence.

Oh, yep, ok.
I will have a think.
 
  • #5
Frenemy90210 said:
Yes but continually repetitive, not one-time occurrence.
Random or not? Periodic? ...
 
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  • #6
Frenemy90210 said:
Yes but continually repetitive, not one-time occurrence.

Edit : Also note that phenomena does not apply to just energy, but also socialogical issues such as sectarian wars between two groups/. ex. Immediately after a war/riot, it is all peace. Then tensions start slowly building up and after some period, there is war once again; and the cycle continues.
Stavros Kiri said:
Random or not? Periodic? ...

periodic.
Also note that phenomena does not apply to just energy, but also sociological issues such as sectarian wars between two groups/. ex. Immediately after a war/riot, it is all peace. Then tensions start slowly building up and after some period, there is war once again; and the cycle continues.
 
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  • #7
I think they are just called 'Outbreaks'
 
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  • #8
Frenemy90210 said:
periodic
But not a constant period (e.g. wars, farting ...)
 
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  • #9
Stavros Kiri said:
But not a constant period (e.g. wars, farting ...)

Then they can't be periodic if they happen at different intervals and times.
 
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  • #10
Stavros Kiri said:
But not a constant period (e.g. wars, farting ...)
yes, correct. Not a constant period.
 
  • #11
Ivan Samsonov said:
Then they can't be periodic if they happen at different intervals and times.
Yes, the "term periodic" was not used in a scientific sense.ex. "Periodic outbreaks of Cholera"
 
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  • #12
Frenemy90210 said:
yes, correct. Not a constant period.
Then ' "Outbreaks" of different types' I think would be the name. I'll try to include or incorporate or generalize into it somewhow the "non-necessarilly constant periodicity".

First thought : 'Sporadic Outbreaks'
Does it work?
 
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  • #13
Stavros Kiri said:
Then ' "Outbreaks" of different types' I think would be the name. I'll try include or incorporate or generalize into it somewhow the "non-necessarilly constsnt periodicity".

First thought : 'Sporadic Outbreaks'
Does it work?

Stavros Kiri said:
I think they are just called 'Outbreaks'

'Outbreaks' is a good hypothesis. I like it.
 
  • #14
Ivan Samsonov said:
'Outbreaks' is a good hypothesis. I like it.
How about the "Sporadic" part?
 
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  • #15
Frenemy90210 said:
Yes, the "term periodic" was not used in a scientific sense.ex. "Periodic outbreaks of Cholera"
I think "Sporadic" should be used instead of periodic. Do you agree?
 
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  • #16
Stavros Kiri said:
I think "Sporadic" should be used instead of periodic. Do you agree?

I do.
 
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  • #17
Ivan Samsonov said:
'Outbreaks' is a good hypothesis. I like it.

Yes. It should have been "sporadic" instead of periodic.
However, I think "Outbreaks"/"Sporadic outbreaks" does not completely reflect the phenomena. e.g. think of sporadic rashes on skin. There is no gradual buildup of anything between two incidents of rashes. Each time some one gets an infection, they get rashes.

What I was looking for is a process in which "slow accumulation of something over a period of time then sudden release of it and the process repeats".
Not all sporadic events have a gradual buildup of the causal elements that lead to outbreak.
 
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  • #18
Or "Sporadic Causal Discharges" is a broader or better one?
 
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  • #19
To say the truth I do not 100% understand the OP question.
It is a bit weirdo_O.
 
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  • #20
Frenemy90210 said:
"slow accumulation of something over a period of time then sudden release of it and the process repeats"
How about
Stavros Kiri said:
Or "Sporadic Causal Discharges" is a broader or better one?
then.
Does it work?
But still looking into it (all your data) ...
It's a good question! You're trying to make a generalization ...
 
  • #21
Ivan Samsonov said:
To say the truth I do not 100% understand the OP question.
It is a bit weirdo_O.

I think this link can be a good example.
 
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  • #22
Stavros Kiri said:
"Sporadic Causal Discharges"

Naturally occurring sporadic casual discharges - even better?
But are they truly random?
 
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  • #23
Frenemy90210 said:
I think this link can be a good example.


Ok, thank you.
 
  • #24
Stavros Kiri said:
Or "Sporadic Causal Discharges" is a broader or better one?

Thanks, but will wait for more suggestions .
 
  • #25
Ivan Samsonov said:
But are they truly random?

Any ideas?
 
  • #26
Ivan Samsonov said:
Any ideas?
I think they can be divided into categories: random, deterministic or chaotic ...
 
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  • #27
Ivan Samsonov said:
Any ideas?
No they are not truly random. But nothing in the universe is.
 
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  • #28
Frenemy90210 said:
Thanks, but will wait for more suggestions .
How about:
Ivan Samsonov said:
Naturally occurring sporadic casual discharges - even better?
But are they truly random?
Stavros Kiri said:
I think they can be divided into categories: random, deterministic or chaotic ...
That covers me. Others can think of anything else?
You just made a new generalization right there ...
 
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  • #29
Stavros Kiri said:
I think they can be divided into categories: random, deterministic or chaotic ...

Frenemy90210 said:
No they are not truly random. But nothing in the universe is.

Thank you.

Stavros Kiri said:
I think they can be divided into categories: random, deterministic or chaotic ...

Right.
 
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  • #30
So that phenomenon will have different types ... and at least 3 categories.
You can't put all in one, I think.
 
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  • #31
Stavros Kiri said:
So that phenomenon will have different types ... and at least 3 categories.

Yes, most likely.

Stavros Kiri said:
You can't put all in one, I think.

You can't. True.
 
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  • #32
Ivan Samsonov said:
Yes.
You can't.
I agree. Not all terms and generalizations have a "uniquely defined 'one-common-property' " ...
There may be more properies, that give rise to the types and categories of the phenomenon.
 
  • #33
Frenemy90210 said:
Is there any name for such a phenomena ?

Wait, are you asking for a scientific name or a name that we could make up right now that suits the parameters?
 
  • #34
Ivan Samsonov said:
Thank you.
Right.
Unfortunately I do not have enough background in maths to completely understand random, deterministic or chaotic.
Another example of the pattern in question is "pressure cooker whistle". The whistle (a kind of steam release switch) sporadically is raised by steam pressure to release the steam, which leads to reducing the pressure, which leads to closing of the switch which leads to slow buildup of the pressure and the cycle continues. This pattern can be seen in the universe frequently.
 
  • #35
Ivan Samsonov said:
Thank you.
Right.
Unfortunately I do not have enough background in maths to completely understand random, deterministic or chaotic.
Another example of the pattern in question is "pressure cooker whistle". The whistle (a kind of steam release switch) sporadically is raised by steam pressure to release the steam, which leads to reducing the pressure, which leads to closing of the switch which leads to slow buildup of the pressure and the
Ivan Samsonov said:
Wait, are you asking for a scientific name or a name that we could make up right now that suits the parameters?

Not a scientific name. Just a general name that describes that pattern.
 

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