1.2.11—Tipping points
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 1.2.11
- Level
- HL
A Tipping Point Changes the Regime
A tipping point is a threshold beyond which feedback shifts a system toward a different equilibrium or stable state.
Pressure may build with little visible response; after the threshold, feedback changes the response regime. The threshold is not simply the first sign or the biggest disturbance.
A lake stays clear as nutrients rise, then a small additional input triggers algal growth, oxygen loss and a turbid state.
Look for a persistent shift in feedback and recovery behaviour, not one large measurement.
A tipping point is not any large disturbance; it is a threshold where system behaviour changes.