BLOCK V. Dynamics

Often we are interested in real-world systems that change in time, for instance the weather, or the population of a species, or the motion of an object through space. The mathematics relating to changes in time is called dynamics. In this Block, we will explore how to model dynamical systems—systems that change in time—by functions that themselves are static. This paradox of using an unchanging function to describe a changing state can be a boon to the modeler, allowing mathematically simple systems to create rich and complicated phenomena.