How Does Positive and Negative Feedback Loops Work?

A feedback loop is like when something happens and it makes more of itself, either by helping or by stopping things.

Imagine you're on a swing. When you push yourself forward, the swing goes higher. That’s a positive feedback loop: the motion you started keeps getting bigger because each push adds more energy. It's like when you laugh until your stomach hurts, the more you laugh, the harder it is to stop.

Now think about turning off the lights in a room. At first, you can still see a little, but as time goes on, it gets darker and darker. That’s a negative feedback loop: the thing that was happening (the light) makes less of itself over time. It's like when you're tired after playing too long, the more you rest, the less tired you get.

In positive loops, things speed up. Like when you sing in the shower and it sounds amazing, you keep singing because it feels good.

In negative loops, things slow down or stop. It's like when your mom tells you to stop jumping on the bed, each time she says "no more," you jump a little less.