Final answer:
A chaotic system displays unpredictable behavior due to extreme sensitivity to initial conditions, as opposed to deterministic systems. This concept applies across various disciplines, including astrophysics and medicine, allowing for the development of methods to understand and predict chaotic behaviors to some extent.
Step-by-step explanation:
A chaotic system is distinguished by its sensitivity to initial conditions and its unpredictable long-term behavior. Unlike deterministic systems like planetary motion, which can be accurately predicted over long periods, chaotic systems exhibit behavior that is highly sensitive to the slightest variations. In the realm of physics, the study of chaos encompasses a wide range of phenomena across various disciplines. An example of a chaotic system in our solar system could be the orbit of Pluto, which may change significantly due to minor gravitational interactions with other planets, rendering its long-term path unpredictable. Similarly, large-scale vortices in Jupiter's atmosphere are chaotic, but the Great Red Spot is an instance of a stable, self-organized system that has persisted for centuries.
The field of chaos is not limited to celestial mechanics but extends to other areas, such as medical science, where the heartbeat in some arrhythmias is considered chaotic. This interdisciplinary approach has led to methods for understanding and even predicting certain chaotic behaviors. Thus, while chaotic systems are not predictable in the conventional sense, research has found ways to quantify and sometimes anticipate their behavior within certain frameworks.