Final answer:
A system with a negative feedback loop is designed to quickly return the process variable to its setpoint, employing a sensor, control center, and effector to correct any deviations from equilibrium, similar to achieving critical damping.
Step-by-step explanation:
A system that brings the process variable back to the setpoint quickly is said to have a negative feedback loop. This type of control mechanism works to reduce any excessive response and maintain a variable within its normal range, effectively correcting deviations from equilibrium. It involves a series of steps where a stimulus from the variable is detected by a sensor and then compared to the setpoint or normal range values by the control center.
If the actual value deviates, the control center sends signals to an effector, such as a gland or organ, which takes action to bring the variable back toward the setpoint. This kind of control mechanism is essential in many systems, including those that govern physiological processes in the body, known as homeostats, to maintain homeostasis. When designed for machines or mechanical systems, ensuring rapid and stable control without overshooting or oscillation is analogous to achieving critical damping.