Overview
Read the item "Models in Science" in this week's readings. It offers guidance about what kinds of things can be scientific models. Models generally seek to explain why something happens in nature, unlike a data set that tells what happened in a particular circumstance or experiment. A scientific model is not
- a description of a human process such as a recipe or instruction manual
- a scale model of a human construction like a car
- a data set or statistical analysis of data
Part 1. Consider a natural phenomenon or natural process that interests you.
Part 2. Create a model of your phenomenon or process. If you have artistic talents, this is the time to use them.
- What are the key features of your model?
- Your model could be a drawing, a diagram, a scale model, a 3D object, or even a video.
- You can use paper, wire, clay, or any other materials. Your model should not just be a picture alone; it needs to explain how something works.