Designing a Model
Sometimes a system is too large to be studied, or too difficult to recreate experimentally. In these cases it is possible to design a model based on a smaller system, that fits the data observed for the larger system. Here are some key points to remember when ...
Designing a Model
Sometimes a system is too large to be studied, or too difficult to recreate experimentally. In these cases it is possible to design a model based on a smaller system, that fits the data observed for the larger system. Here are some key points to remember when designing a model:
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A model is a testable idea that describes a large system that is not easily testable.
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The model should be able to explain as many observations of the large system as possible, and yet be relatively simple.
An example of a model was the spherical model of the Earth, rather than a flat one.
Image credit: CGTrader.com
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Many educated people of the day (in the late 1400s) knew that the Earth could not be flat due to observations that did not fit. A spherical Earth model was proposed, which was testable on a small scale.
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The model explained many previously unexplained phenomenon (such as that ships appeared to sink over the horizon, regardless of the direction of travel).
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The model was further verified by the shape of the Earth's shadow on the moon during lunar eclipses.
This lesson is part of:
Skills for Science