Earth Science Daily Challenge, 9/17

What is a MODEL?Give at least 4 different examples of models in complete sentences.

• are representations of real objects, systems, or ideas.

• Scientific models can be classified into three categories…–Physical–Mathematical–Conceptual

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

PHYSICAL 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

MATHEMATICAL 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

CONCEPTUAL 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

Why use MODELS?

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”)