<h2>Designing a Model</h2>
<p>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:</p>
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<p>A model is a testable idea that describes a large system that is not easily testable.</p>
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<p>The model should be able to explain as many observations of the large system as possible, and yet be relatively simple.</p>
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<p>An example of a model was the spherical model of the Earth, rather than a flat one.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_102921" style="width: 500px"><a href="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/ec4f7a59-9a7c-4cb5-ad5d-1f2970cb913e"><img alt="globe-3d-model" class="size-full wp-image-102921" height="500" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/ec4f7a59-9a7c-4cb5-ad5d-1f2970cb913e" width="500"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image credit: CGTrader.com</p></div>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>The model explained many previously unexplained phenomenon (such as that ships appeared to <em>sink</em> over the horizon, regardless of the direction of travel).</p>
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<p>The model was further verified by the shape of the Earth's shadow on the moon during lunar eclipses.</p>
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Designing a Model

Physics is a science discipline concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. Physics topics include mechanics, heat, light and radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, the structure of atoms, and so on.

Physics

Explore various scientific concepts and practical skills, including scientific notation, unit conversions, rates, ratios, constants, and the scientific method, as well as laboratory safety procedures and designing models.


Designing a Model

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