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The term tipping point describes a point at which a slow gradual change becomes irreversible and then proceeds with gathering pace. It is derived from the metaphor of a rigid solid object being tilted to a point where it begins to topple. Metaphor (from the Greek: μεταφορά - metaphora, meaning "transfer" is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects
It can particularly refer to:
In science
- Tipping point (sociology), a term in sociology referring to the moment when something previously unique becomes common
- Tipping point (climatology), a point in the evolution of the earth's climate leading to irreversible change. In Sociology, a tipping point or Angle of repose is the event of a previously rare phenomenon becoming rapidly and dramatically more common The tipping point in the study of the Earth 's changing climate is the point at which change due to human activity brings about sufficient new processes in nature
- In engineering the tipping point is the maximum stable slope a bulk granular material (such as sand) can assume before it slips down the slope. The angle of repose is an Engineering property of Granular materials The angle of repose is the maximum angle of a stable slope determined by friction cohesion
In the arts and media
- The Tipping Point (book), a book by Malcolm Gladwell expanding on the sociological term
- The Tipping Point (album), a musical album by Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots
- The Tipping Point (band), a band from Greeley, Colorado
- Tipping Point (arts), a UK-based organisation facilitating conversations between artists and scientitst on the role of the arts in climate change. The Tipping Point How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (ISBN 0-316-31696-2 is a book by Malcolm Gladwell, first published by Little Brown The Tipping Point (released July 13, 2004) is the sixth album from The Roots.
In business
- TippingPoint, a computer security provider and a division of 3Com
Dictionary
tipping point
-noun
- (catastrophe theory) The point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible, often with dramatic consequences.
- The point in time at which some new technology becomes mainstream.
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