# transformation (phase)

A change where a parameter crosses a wall and the parts persist through a new window.

- Computed level: L14 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: physics  ·  Arena: thermodynamic

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [change](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-change.process), [parameter](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-parameter.condition), [wall](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-wall.range-end), [window](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-window.range), [drift](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-drift.aimless), [persist](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-persist.continue), [part](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-part.relation), [new](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-new.recent), [cross](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-cross.symbol)

**Through:** Parameter drift leads to crossing a wall, triggering a change where the thing's parts continue into a new window.

**Novel properties:**
- crossing event
- persistent parts in new context
- boundary transition

## Examples
- Water boils at 100°C at sea level, turning liquid to vapor while molecules persist through the phase shift. *(physics)*
- A caterpillar's tissues reorganize into a butterfly during metamorphosis, with certain cells surviving the pupal transition. *(biology)*
- The 2008 financial crisis crossed a credit-default threshold, triggering systemic collapse while core banking functions endured. *(economics)*

## Used by
- [rich](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-rich.abundant) (L15)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-transformation.phase*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-transformation.phase.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*