Final answer:
Models are simplified representations of real-world activities and systems that allow for testing and evaluating hypotheses or prototype designs at a lower cost. They are used across various disciplines such as science, architecture, and engineering to refine designs and improve outcomes before actual implementation.
Step-by-step explanation:
You can use a model to describe how a real-world activity will perform. Models also enable you to test hypotheses and evaluate prototypes at a fraction of the cost of actually undertaking the activities which the models simulate. By representing complex systems in a simpler form, models make it easier to gain an understanding of how actual systems function. This is particularly useful in fields such as architecture, where a physical model of an office building can show its impact on a city block, or in product development, where rough models of new products demonstrate functionality before investing in full-scale production.
From science to engineering, models allow for the testing and evaluating of prototypes, ensuring they meet requirements and perform as expected against mathematical models based on scientific phenomena. Should testing unveil discrepancies between the prototype's actual performance and the ideal model, the design can be iteratively refined to improve outcomes. This iterative process is a cost-effective strategy to optimize design before actual implementation.
Science connection: Accurate values of physical parameters in models lead to more detailed knowledge and inform cost-effective solutions. Check Your Understanding: Using models is advantageous because they are simpler to analyze, but not necessarily because they give more accurate results or more reliable predictions, nor is it true that they don't require any computer calculations.