Earth Science Daily Challenge, 9/17
What is a MODEL?
Give at least 4 different
examples of models in
complete sentences.
MODELS
• are representations of real
objects, systems, or ideas.
• Scientific models can be classified
into three categories…
–Physical
–Mathematical
–Conceptual
PHYSICAL MODELS
• can be touched, manipulated, etc.
• often “scaled” to the real thing
• usually used to explain or
describe things, to help visualize
• Examples
–human body plastic torso
–model planes, cars, rockets
–solar system model
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• mathematical equations that
describe the behavior of a system
• often used to predict what will
happen if…
• also called “computer models”
• Examples
–weather forecasting models
–astronomy models
CONCEPTUAL MODELS
• organized ideas about how
something works
• used to understand something
• Examples
–how gravity works
–blueprints for a building
–Earth is made of layers – crust, mantle, core
–how the solar system moves
Why use MODELS?
• Real things might be too big, too
small, too complicated, too far
away, etc. to study directly!
• Scientific models can…
–help explain how things work
–help people visualize things
–make predictions - what will happen?
• Models are limited…
–only as good as the data that went
into creating them, must be TESTED
Earth Science Daily Challenge, 9/20
List as many branches of science as you
can think of in 2 minutes and briefly
explain what each one is...
For example,
Physics - the study of matter and energy
What are some others?
HINT: (think of “–ologies”)