MODELS

When we try to understand how something works, we look for similarities with things that we understand. These are MODELS. The model is used to predict how the unknown item will work. If the predictions are all true, we consider the model to be good. If some predictions are not true, we look for a better model. If we can not find one model that meets all of the observations of the unknown, we adapt what we can.

Suppose Rip Van Winkle came awake today, and you had to explain cars to him. About the best model you would likely find is the horse. It is transportation. It has to be fed in order to get it to walk. It produces pollution that can be ignored in small amounts but must be dealt with in large amounts.

Trouble is, we can forget to feed the car for a week or two, as long as we do not use it much. If the car gets hurt we remove the damaged piece and replace it. And we rarely add water.

Models are not perfect. (Neither, obviously, are my artistic talents!) The idea that light has a wave nature is an imperfect model. Talking about magnetic or electrical disturbances as being the 'medium' that supports the wave is not an easy concept to understand.

In this case waves do not explain enough; neither do photons or particles. So we use one model when it works, and we use the other model when the first one does not work.

At some point we have to simply accept a concept and get on with the learning part!

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