Final answer:
Scientific models can be categorized into live, verbal instructional, and symbolic types. They allow for the simpler study of complex real-world systems and enable scientists to make predictions and gain deeper understanding, even in cases where direct observation is not possible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three types of scientific models are live models, verbal instructional models, and symbolic models. Live models are individuals demonstrating a behavior in person, like a surfing instructor showing how to stand on a surfboard. Verbal instructional models involve explanations or descriptions of behavior without the demonstrator actually performing the action, such as a coach explaining how to kick a soccer ball properly. Symbolic models include any representation of behaviors or phenomena in media such as books, movies, television shows, or even online content, which can be either fictional or based on real characters or events.
Scientific models are extremely useful for representing parts of the real world that are too complex or difficult to study directly. They allow scientists to learn how complex systems work by analyzing a simplified version, making models essential tools for gaining scientific knowledge and pointing toward new discoveries. For example, the kinetic molecular theory of gases is actually a model that helps in understanding the behavior of gases despite its limitations. Moreover, properties and processes that cannot be readily observed, like the formation of stars or the detailed structure of an atom, can be modeled using mathematical functions, computer simulations, and physical three-dimensional models, allowing for visualization and experimentation in a virtual environment.