physical models
Three-dimensional mock-ups
Physical models are tangible representations of objects, systems, or concepts—scaled replicas used to study, demonstrate, or visualize something difficult to observe directly.
Architects build physical models of buildings, scientists construct models of molecules, and engineers test prototypes before full production.
The term distinguishes these three-dimensional objects from mathematical models, computer simulations, or theoretical frameworks: The wind tunnel tests used physical models of the aircraft.
- simulatorDevice replicating real conditions
- laboratory apparatusTools for scientific work
- miniatureReduced-scale representation
- ship in a bottleModel vessel inside glass
- globeSpherical representation of landmasses
paper airplane · maquette · replica · mock-up · crash test dummy · test rig · wind tunnel · orrery · apparatus · diorama · train set · 3D print · prototype · schematic · mechanism · robotic arm · flowchart · theoretical framework
- teaching aidsblackboard, chalkboard, whiteboard, smartboard, textbook
- hydrologyrivers, streamflow, aquifers, aquifer, lakes
physical modelscomputer simulations
Digital recreations of systems
mathematical models · digital twins · computer-generated imagery · simulations · diagrams
physical modelsthought experiments
Hypothetical scenarios for reasoning
pure mathematics · theoretical models · mental models · equations · statistical models
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