[Intro]
I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time…
You see, I was under the influence of gravity
[Instrumental, Organ, Saxophone, Bass]
[Verse 1]
Conservation of my momentum
Conversation: go get ’em
Time to roll
It’s all downhill from… hear
[Bridge]
Hear the diction of friction
Your warm affection
I’ve the notion
Accelerates my motion
[Break]
Roll, baby, roll
[Chorus]
Roll, baby, roll (Roll, baby, roll)
It’s all downhill from here
We’re on a roll (Roll, baby, roll)
Make sure our path is clear
Don’t want our ride to collide
[Instrumental]
[Break]
In the first place
[Verse 2]
In the first place
I was under the influence of gravity
And, it really got to me
[Break]
Pull
[Break]
Pull
[Break]
Pull
[Break]
I have to go
‘least, it’s all downhill from… hear
[Bridge]
Hear the diction of friction
Your warm affection
I’ve the notion
Accelerates my motion
[Break]
Roll, baby, roll
[Chorus]
Roll, baby, roll (Roll, baby, roll)
It’s all downhill from here
We’re on a roll (Roll, baby, roll)
Make sure our path is clear
Don’t want our ride to collide
[Instrumental]
[Break]
Foot on the gas
[Verse 3]
Gaining mass
While time goes past
Conserving my momentum
I am…
Going big
Big, big, big
[Break]
Pull
[Break]
Pull
[Break]
Pull
[Break]
I have to go
‘least, it’s all downhill from… hear
[Bridge]
Hear the diction of friction
Your warm affection
I’ve the notion
Accelerates my motion
[Break]
Roll, baby, roll
[Chorus]
Roll, baby, roll (Roll, baby, roll)
It’s all downhill from here
We’re on a roll (Roll, baby, roll)
Make sure our path is clear
Don’t want our ride to collide
[Outro]
I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time…
I was really under the influence of gravity
And, she said, “Let’s roll.”
So, we went for a stroll
[End]
[Silence]
A SCIENCE LESSON
When a snowball rolls down a hill, it accumulates mass, accelerates, and gains inertia, mirroring the progression of human-induced climate change. Tipping points, once breached, set off self-sustaining feedback loops independent of human influence. This phenomenon is akin to a falling domino striking two more, setting off a chain reaction—hence the term “The Domino Effect”. In climate science, it’s often termed “tipping cascades.” This concept can also be likened to “The Snowball Effect.” A tipping point resembles a snowball gathering mass and velocity (momentum) as it rolls downhill. Once passed, it leads to cumulative and reinforced global warming.
- Conservation of Momentum: According to Newton’s first law of motion, an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. As the snowball starts rolling down the hill, it gains momentum. Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, so as the snowball gains mass by accumulating more snow, its momentum increases.
- Friction: Friction between the snowball and the surface of the hill plays a crucial role. Friction opposes the motion of the snowball, which means it acts in the direction opposite to the snowball’s velocity. However, as the snowball accumulates more mass, it also gains more surface area in contact with the hill, which increases the frictional force. This can help accelerate the snowball’s motion, especially if the hill is steep enough.
- Gravity: Gravity is what pulls the snowball downhill in the first place. As the snowball rolls down the hill, it accelerates under the influence of gravity. The force of gravity acting on the snowball increases its velocity, contributing to its momentum.
- Impact and Collisions: As the snowball accumulates more mass, it may collide with other objects like rocks or other snowballs on its way down the hill. These collisions can transfer momentum and alter the snowball’s trajectory and velocity.
Overall, the snowball’s momentum is a result of the interplay between these factors. As it gains mass and velocity while rolling down the hill, its momentum increases, governed by the principles of classical mechanics.
Chaos theory, the concept of The Snowball Effect, tipping points and feedback loops provide valuable insights into understanding the acceleration of climate change.
- Chaos Theory: Chaos theory deals with complex systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, where small changes can lead to significant differences in outcomes. The Earth’s climate system is a classic example of such a complex system. Small perturbations, such as changes in greenhouse gas concentrations or variations in ocean currents, can lead to large-scale and often unpredictable changes in weather patterns and climate dynamics. Chaos theory helps us understand why seemingly small changes in atmospheric composition or temperature can have profound and sometimes unexpected effects on global climate patterns.
- Tipping Points: Tipping points are thresholds in a system where a small change can lead to a significant and often irreversible shift in the system’s state. In the context of climate change, tipping points represent critical thresholds in Earth’s climate system, such as the melting of polar ice caps or the collapse of large ice sheets. Once these tipping points are crossed, they can trigger feedback loops that amplify warming and accelerate climate change. For example, the melting of Arctic sea ice reduces the Earth’s albedo, leading to more absorption of solar radiation and further warming of the Arctic, creating a positive feedback loop.
- Feedback Loops: Feedback loops are mechanisms by which changes in one part of a system amplify or dampen changes in another part of the system. In the climate system, there are both positive and negative feedback loops. Positive feedback loops amplify changes and tend to destabilize the climate system, while negative feedback loops dampen changes and promote stability. For example, as temperatures rise, permafrost thaw releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which further accelerates warming, creating a positive feedback loop. On the other hand, increased atmospheric CO2 levels can stimulate plant growth, leading to more carbon uptake through photosynthesis, which acts as a negative feedback loop.
By considering chaos theory, tipping points, and feedback loops, we can better understand the non-linear dynamics of the climate system and why climate change can accelerate rapidly once certain thresholds are crossed. This understanding is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Tipping points are Critical Milestones that directly impact the rate of acceleration in climate change by multiplying the number and intensity of feedback loops. Identifying and understanding these tipping points is crucial for climate science and policymaking. Crossing multiple tipping points could lead to a domino effect, resulting in a much more rapid and severe climate change than currently projected.
Push a glass toward the edge of a table and eventually it will fall off on its own. No matter how slowly or meticulously you push… no matter how you weight or fill the glass, it will reach a tipping point and fall off before being pushed completely off the table. No matter whether you believe the glass is half-empty or half-full, when the tipping point is reached it will plummet out-of-control to its end. This is science not fate, faith, nor belief. Human induced climate change has resulted in environmental tipping points being breached.
Tipping points, when crossed, trigger self-sustaining feedback loops that are no longer dependent on human activity. Similar to when a domino topples over hitting two more dominoes that in turn fall hitting more dominoes. Thus, the name The Domino Effect. It can also be visualized as The Snowball Effect. A tipping point is like a snowball rolling down a hill growing in mass and velocity (momentum). When a tipping point is crossed, it results in cumulative and reinforced global warming.