What is the butterfly effect?

Question

What is the butterfly effect?

Answer 1

It's the theory that small changes affect everything in the world. Imagine going back to prehistoric times, and you see a moth, or a butterfly. And you step on it. The idea is that squishing that moth would impact everything thousands of years later.

You can learn the general concept by watching the movie. (The Butterfly Effect.)

Answer 2

It's the concept that an action anywhere in the world eventually affects the rest of the world.  A butterfly flaps its wings, creates a breeze that causes a flower seed to fall and grow, which becomes a flower that a bee pollinates that leads to honey that leads to . . . . ..  You get the idea.

The smallest thing can still affect everything.  The concept is not just limited to the world, of course, it could be the universe or anything you can imagine.

Consider watching the film Sliding Doors with Gwynth Paltrow.  Not only is it a great flick, but it's a Hollywood example of the butterfly effect.

Answer 3

the butterfly effect is the theory of one thing leading to another, almost like the domino effect. its been said that the butterfly effect is when a butterfly flaps its wings in america would it cause a tidal wave in china after traveling that far and building up? could one thing build into another?

Answer 4

a caterpillar turns from a nasty lil slug thing in to a winged beautiful insect

Answer 5

DonnaJos answered perfectly.  Couldn't have said it any better than that!

Answer 6

Possibly.....The movie. Starring Ashton Kutcher.

And Donna, that which you are referring to is the Chaos Theory.