Final answer:
Models are simplified representations that may not include all complex details but are vital for understanding systems that are challenging to observe directly. They are foundational in scientific learning and are accurate within certain limitations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Models are indeed simplified representations of reality and as such, they often ignore complex aspects to make a situation more understandable. This simplification is essential because it allows scientists and students to analyze and learn about systems that are otherwise too difficult or impossible to observe directly. For instance, scientific models, such as the atomic model, provide a visual or conceptual understanding of atomic structure though we cannot observe electron orbits directly. These models are based on experimental evidence but are acknowledged to be accurate under specific conditions only. Therefore, the planetary model of the atom, which depicts electrons orbiting a nucleus, serves as a mental image to support observations like atomic spectra, but it isn't a true picture of the exact structure of an atom. Moreover, models are not just limited to physical representation; they can also be mathematical, helping to guide understanding without capturing all the nuances of the real system.