Question of the Week #2
Posted by drakesci | Under Question of The Week Sunday Sep 21, 2008This unit of study involves learning about maps. Different map projections of the world and topographic maps are both models for Earth. Make a list of some of the models people use in their daily life. Include physical models, mathematical models, and mental models. List at least two examples of each and make sure you tell what it represents, why it is used instead of the real object or concept, and if it is a scale model.
You should use different examples than those previously posted.
Due: Friday morning, Sept. 26.
Physical models:
Mannequin:
Used to show how clothes would fit a human body without having an actual person stand there. (not a scale model, mannequins are life size.)
Globe:
It allows us to see in 3D the shape of the earth and where landmasses are located. (It is a scale model because the earth was shrinked.)
Mathematical Models:
Graph:
It allows us to show data without having to write it all in text form. (It is a scale model because the acutal size of the data is shrunken to fit the paper by using intervals.)
Drawing of a 3D shape:
There may be a question on a test where they ask you to find the surface area of a cylinder. There would be a pictured of a cylinder with its height and radius labled. The drawing is to explain the size of the cylinder without actually drawing the cylinder to scale. (This is a scale model)
Mental Model:
I’m not too sure on this one… so I’ll take a guess…
Metaphor:
Used to help others to understand what you are trying to say, in a more detailed way. (not a scale model)
Adjectives:
Used to enhance the visualization of an object or thing in our mind. It’s adds meaning and description. (not a scale model)
Physical Model:
1 solar system model
2 model of a plane
they use models because the real thing is too big.
Mathematical models:
1 architectural models(with scale)
2 map of highways(also with scale)
Mental models:
1 going to a restaurant and predicting what people do
2 driving a car to the school
Physical:
-a city
when an architect is planing to build a city they sometimes build a scale model of it. It’s a rough draft of what it will be.
-The Adirondack Region
it’s a scale model because the real thing is too big.
Mathematical:
-Atlas
Shows multiple areas with latitude and longitude. Scale model.
-Population
A count of people in a certain area. Is scale. It’s used as a count so you don’t have to count every single person.
Mental:
-idea
inventors think up ideas to invent stuff.
N/A
-direction
finding your way around your neighborhood.
Physical Models
-a sonar diagram of the ocean is a physical model and it is important so that ships that can’t see the bottom of the ocean don’t get stranded.(scale)
-another physical model is a map of the types of bedrock underneath a city. it is important to builders so they know whats stable.(scale)
Mathematical
-a noise contour map, a map of noise intensity is a mathematical model. It is used to tell how loud an area is, for example an airport.(scale)
-A model that predicts pollution is a mathematical map because it is speculative. it also helps people prepare for the future.(graph)
Mental
-a mnemonic or memory aid is a mental model because in your mind you remember a word or phrase that helps you remember he whole.
-another mental is thinking in your mind how a hypothetical situation will play out. while not always useful thinking of where the nearest fire escape is might be a good example.
Physical Models:
1.A model of the Titanic to show what it looked like before it sunk.
2.A planitarium to see where the stars and planets are in space.
Mathmatical Models:
1.Blueprints for consturction workers to see what they are buiding.
2.A web design of a car to show how it will be built.
Mental Models:
1.An antonym to remeber what certian things are like.
2.Initials to represent the first letters of a specific name, or phrase.
Two Physical Models:
1. Model of an atom- It is used to show what an atom might look like, because they are too small to see with the human eye. This is a scale model because atoms are extremely small and in the model they will be shown bigger.
2. Statue or model of a building- Architects can use them to see how a house or building will look when it is built. They can also use it to find problems with the design. This is a scale model because the model is most likely a lot smaller than the actual building.
Two Mathematical Models:
1. Weather Map (Radar)- Can be used to show the predicted weather patterns for upcoming days/weeks. Is a scale model because it shows a large area on a smaller screen.
2. Venn Diagram (the type used in math)- Can help to visualize things in math. Not a scale model because it is representing numbers.
Two Mental Models:
1. Imagery- Although this is something used in literature, it can help you to make a mental model by describing things. It is not a scale model.
2. Doing math problems in your head- A lot of times, people might say they did the math work “in their head” rather than on paper. This is a mental model because they were able to visualize the numbers in their head.
3. Dreams- Can be a mental model because it is displaying things in your head and they might or might not help you to figure things out. Could be a scale model, but it depends on the way you visualize it.
Physical Models
A Model car-It is a scale model, on it you can see all the parts of a car and how they fit together without actually having a car right there
Fake rock-It is not a scale model because it is life size though sometimes they are on a scale. They are used instead of the real thing because sometimes you can’t find the real thing because it isn’t found in that region.
Mathematical Models
Compass- It is not to scale because it shows how many degrees north, south,east, or west you are. It is used for directional purposes or to find out where something is.
Architectural designs-Used as a draft for an architect on how they will design a building and how everything will be arranged. It is a scale model.It is helpful because then they can see what it will look like before is is arranged.
Mental Models
I’m not so sure but here is what I think it might be
Suffix/prefix- It is not a scale model but it helps you know it something is happening before or after (POST-game,after the game, PRE-fix, before the word,etc.)It is used so that you know when something is happening or if it is good or bad (UN-intelligent, DIS-organized etc.)
Imagining a place in your mind- A scale model, or life-size depending on how you are thinking. When you think of your house, you are creating a mental model of the building, it helps if you are trying to remember where you put something, you can picture the building in your mind and all the rooms you went in.
Physical models:
1) a prototype- A prototype is a smaller, whatever an inventor is creating, it is used instead of the real thing because the real thing might be too big and to see if the invention works. It is a scale model
2) a map- a map is pretty much the same as a globe. We use maps so we know which way we go and we can put a map in our pocket, but not a globe. This is a scale model
Mathematical models:
1) Line graph- shows the relation to a number of different things over time. We use this because it’s hard to keep all the numbers in our heads and compare them. It is a scale model even though sometimes it doesn’t start on zero.
2) Bar graph- shows a relation of the number of objects certain things have. we use this for the same reason as the line graph, we can’t keep all those numbers in our heads. It is a scale model but it has to start on zero.
Mental models:
1) Remembering-If you see a person say 5 minutes ago, and you want to see him again, but he walked away, you can remember him in your mind. We use this instead of the real thing because you can’t follow a person around all the time, but you can remember a lot of things, not just people. Maybe a phone number. You don’t want to carry around a big, bulky phonebook, you could just remember the phone number
2) Classifying- when your classifying something, your kind of putting it into a big venn diagram in your mind. You put whatever your looking at into groups. We use this because maybe your looking at something you’ve never seen before, and your wondering what it is. You put it in together with stuff that looks kind of like it, and then guess what it means.
physical models:
-topographic map
a map shows the elevations of an area
-model of the solar system
a model that shows all the planets and how the are lined up in our solar system
mathematical models:
-LINE graphs
shows differences in numbers over a period of time
-BAR graphs
shows difference in numbers not over a period of time
mental models:
-mapping out problems in your head
seeing the #’s to a math problem in ur head
-remembering memories or images
you can see the image in your mind
Physical Models:
One physical model is a stuffed animal toy because it represents the larger animal
Another physical model is like in science this year we use a bigger model of a molecule to represent it.
Mathematical Models:
One mathematical model is a traffic flow map that’s used to show a smaller representation of the roads.
Another one is the stock market charts that show how the stocks are doing.
Mental Models:
One mental model is how if a ball is thrown up I know from my mental model that it will stay up and then come back down.
Another one is that if the doorbell rings I know from my mental model when I open it someone will be on the other side.
physical models: a globe is a physical model that is drawn to scale. another physical model is a 3-D model of a building before it is built.
mathematical models: a line graph is a mathematical model of something that you can interpolate or extrapolate with. another example is a weather map that shows the predicted weather over the next 24 , 48 hours or even the next week.
Mental models: animations that you can see on the computer of how the earth rotates,…ect. Also directions and sense of direction to find your way around an area. like where the highways are and what streets cut through.
Physical:
~ An architectural model is a small scale representation of a building. It helps people to visualize what the real thing will look like
~ A vehicle engineering model helps us to test the vehicles to make sure that they are safe for human use and are built properly
~ For medical use, doctors that specialize in one area usually have a model of that body part on display- for example a chiropractor most likely has a model of the spine on display
Math Models:
~ Pie Charts are a convenient way to compare the percentage of a whole broken down into sections
~ Interest Rate Tables help us to see what we could be making or paying in interest at different rates and periods of time
Mental Models:
~ A crying baby can be telling us one of several things. It could be saying its hungry, or that it needs its binky, we need to infer what it is trying to tell us
~ A siren, no matter what kind, either a police siren or a fire truck, tells us that there is an emergency and to get out of the way.
~ A fire alarm, in school tells us to evacuate the building. When we hear the alarm in school, we know to get out quickly and quietly
Physical model:
1) bacteria because we can’t see it without a light microscope so it is enlarged with a camera so we can study it better. this is a scale model because it is enlarged with a camera, therefore making it bigger.
2) a sculpture of a monument, such as the eiffel tower, it represents something a lot huger. this is a scale model because it represents something bigger
mathematical models:
1) equations where we have to draw pictures of shapes that are like, nine feet by seven feet… we wouldn’t really draw the figure that tall, but we would make a mini version of it in order to solve it. this is also a scale model because it represents something bigger.
2) logarithmic graphs~~ they show really really large numbers and really really small numbers all squished together on one sheet of paper. this is a scale model because it shows numbers on a smaller and bigger scale.
mental models:
im not exactly sure on these… so sorry if they’re wrong
1) making bets on horseraces, because depending on which horse looks the strongest, you can therefore predict whether it will lose or win. Or you can just randomely guess too… this isn’t a scale model because this is a prediction.
2) every morning when you wake up you know that the sun will rise and set, even if you can’t see it because of the clouds. this isn’t a scale model either because this is an inference.
Physical Models:
A physical model is a smaller or larger physical copy of an object. Two examples of a physical model are..
1) The Open system Interconnection Reference Model(OSI) is an abstract description for layered communications and computer network practical design.
2) A cell, atom or molecule is a physical model because they are so microscopic that we have to blow them up and make them into lifesize models so that we can understand how they work and what their functions are.
Mathematical Models:
A mathematical model uses mathematical language to describe a system. Two examples of a mathematical model are..
1) Charts are considered a mathematical model because they help you display mathematical data in ways that are meaningful to the audience.
2) Pictographs are a mathematical model because they use small picture symbols to compare information.
Mental Models:
A mental model is an explanation of someones thought process about how something works in the real world. Two examples of a mental model are..
1) Memory is a mental model because you make different models or pictures in your mind to remember things and you don’t even know it!
2) Also, an example of a mental model can be the sound of the microwave. When I hear that sound, I know that the food is ready.
Physical maps:
1.maps of the us, show the different states there capital cities and land features but it is drawn to scale.
2.blue print, shows us rooms and what could be in the rooms or how big the rooms are but it is drawn to scale.
Mathematical models:
1.a line graph or a bar graph, they usually show comparisons.
2.temperature maps, show what temperature a region is of the country or of the state. It is color coated and the colors are represented by a number to show if it is cold or hot ex.end of dark blue to the begging of light blue is about 20 degrees F
Mental Models:
1.by visualizing your room, trying to remember what is in your room where it is how it is placed what color is it and things like that.
2.what is your surroundings, like what is in you back yard without actually looking at your back yard trying to think how many trees are there, is the grass green, do i have dirt, is there a lawn mower of a shed…ect.
i forgot to tell if they were drawn to scale or not
mathematical
1.yes
2.no because the map is not drawn to scale
Mental
1.no you wouldn’t draw your actual room to the exact size
2.no you wouldn’t draw life size trees
There are many types of models in the world. Some you can see and some a mentally in your head.
Physical:
1) A model house is a physical model. When home buyers want to get an idea of what they want their house to look like they come to these model houses and they get ideas. A model house usually is not for sale, but once it stops getting viewers then it goes up on the market, not becoming a model anymore. A model house is to scale because it is actually life size and the normal size of any other house. It is used so people can constantly come see it without it being bought.
2) Another exapmle of a physical model is an artificial flower. An artificial flower is a model of a real flower. It looks exactly the same as a real flower, except it is fake. They have no smell, but hey never die so you can keep them as long as you like. These are drawn to scale because they are the same size as any regular flower. This flower is used because some people are allergic to regular flowers and because they last longer.
Mathematical Model:
1) An example of a mathematical model is Excel Program. An excel program is a program that allows you to be data into columns and rows. It allows you to analyze the data better. This is not to scale because you are not comparing it o anything, it is just rows and columns with data in it.
2) Another example of a mathematical model is a GPS. A GPS is a model of streets, roads and highways that can lead you to the destination you would like to go. It also includes latitude and longitude lines and all the street, highways, and roads names and numbers. This is mathematical because you are using numbers to navigate to a place. A GPS is useful because if you need to get to a place you don’t know how to get to, this place can take you there. This is to scale because has the correct latitudes and longitude lines.
Mental Model:
1) An example of a mental model is a web inside your head. A web puts your thoughts into sections based on one big idea. When you do this process in your head you are doing it mentally. It allows you to decipher your thoughts and understand them better. This is not to scale, because it does not have a scale, it is just your thoughts. This way you don’t always have to write it down on paper, in case you don’t have a piece with you.
2) Another example of a mental model is the bark of a dog. Whenever I hear a bark, I automatically know that this is a dog and that is what i picture in my head. I don’t have to run outside and see what it is because I already know. This is helpful to know the sound of the dog and other animals because I don’t have to waste my time going to see what it is, I will just already know. This is not to scale because it is a sound and image in my head and there is no scale for it.
P.S. Some of these I wasn’t really sure on so I might have gotten them wrong, and there was already so many comments, I might have repeated one by accident event though I read them.
Sorry I’m doing this so late, my computer woldn’t work and I couldn’t log in yesterday or today and ……….. ugg it’s such a big mess. Anyway,
Physical model:
1. A slice of cake. Its a portion because you obviosly can’t eat it all. Sometimes its is up to scale depending on the slices that have been cut.
2. A model of the solar system- it is much easier to view on a smaller level. ( the original is way too huge.) Usually it is in the ballpark range of being up to scale. If you were a scientist and had the equipment to do so, it would be really close. But, if you were a kid it wouldn’t be exact but you could still have the proportions correct ex(sun bigger than earth etc.)
Mental model:
1. An instrument playing. You don’t have to see it to hear it. You can have an image in your mind. It is not up to scale it fluxuates based on how many persons are playing and the different instruments etc.
2.A glass breaking. you don’t have to see it you can use the sense of hearing to observe what is’s like and based off of that construct a visual aid in your mind. This is not to scale. It’s be too tough to tell what size the glass was exactly.
Mathematical
1.Using a microscope-seeing something closer and having a better idea of those details.this is up to scale because you use the objective lenses and have a total power of that image.
2.A digital elevation model- Used to graph contour lines in engineering. by making contour lines, it is much easier to view the fluxuations in land elevation. This is up to scale or else we’d have false topographic maps and that wouldn’t be beneficial to us.
Physical-
1. A model of the sun. This can show details of the sun and it isn’t a scale model of the sun because we don’t know the exact measurement of the sun.
2. Model of something buried, this can show how deep something is underground in a reasonable size. This is a scale model.
Mathmatical-
1. A line over a number showing it repeats itself over and over. This allows a person to know that that number actually goes on forever. This is a scale model.
2. A 3-D shape on a piece of paper that could be labeled 3ft by 5ft by 11ft. This is a model because it shows the object drawn to scale but labled what it actual size is (scale).
Mental-
1. Remembering only a couple characterisctics of a place to remember what it looks like in your head, instead of remembering every detail of the place. (not scale).
2. The smell of a food, lets me know that that food is near and ready for me to enjoy. Instead of going all the way downstairs to see if it is ready. (not scale)
Sorry if I repeated any ideas. I tried very hard not to!