Investigation 1A:
Precipitation and Climate
Modeling of Water Flow
Answer the questions below on a sheet of paper. Compare your answers with your classmates.
- How does this model work the same as what it represents?
- How does this model work differently from what it represents?
- What are the strengths of this model? What are the weaknesses?
- Compare and contrast this model with what it represents.
Summary
You have conducted an experiment that demonstrates how the rate of flow of water depends on how much water there is (along with other factors). In addition, you have also seen that a simple computer model, using a number to represent the 'other factors', can be adjusted ('tuned') to accurately represent an experiment, and then used to predict how the experiment will behave under other conditions. Scientists build models for this purpose - to help predict how the world will behave - and often use experiments to help confirm that the computer model does indeed represent the real physical system.
To continue to the Computational Modeling section of Investigation 1A: Precipitation and Climate, click on the link to the left.