Final answer:
In a continuous model, systems are described using mathematical equations that provide a smooth and precise prediction of their behavior over time, opposed to at specific intervals like in discrete models.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a continuous model, we write out a set of explicit mathematical equations that describe the behavior of a system as a continuous function of time t. This type of model is used to represent processes that change smoothly over time, and it's a form of mathematical model that employs various mathematical concepts like equations, distributions, etc., to describe a phenomenon.
An example of a continuous model can be found in environmental science, where it might be used to describe the population growth of a species or the change in concentration of a pollutant in a river over time. Unlike discrete models, which only describe systems at specific intervals, continuous models provide a seamless representation that can be very precise and are often used in deterministic systems, such as predicting spacecraft trajectories or the spread of contaminants in an ecosystem.