What are the limitations of scientific models?

Answer 1

They allow you to determine possible outcomes without having to set up large and costly experiments. In the pharmaceutical industry for example they use animal tissue models to test drugs on to give them some idea what the drug will do to people before they set up actual clinical trials costing millions to try it out on people. If it kills the tissue cultures or has no effect then they need to do more research before trying it on people.

Some limitations are the it is not always the actual size of the actual item you are modeling, such as creating an Earth model. Of course, it is not the actual huge size of the real Earth, but what it does do is show the continents, countries, states, islands, etc.

Another limitation is that some models can be bulky. If you carry around an Earth model that is complicated with an orbit and the Sun, it will not be easy to carry. However, if you just made a simple Earth, it will be carried easily.

One more is the models can't be exact. You can't exactly pin-point that continent on the Earth, or you can't exactly put the sun where it really is. Models are often not exact, unless it is created by a machine or a graph. But don't worry, models don't need to be exact, as long as they're representing what they need to represent.

Answer 2

A really good question! A scientific model is a construction (it can be mental or virtual only), that illustrates a scientific principle or demonstrates a theory. The model might make it easier to understand, but might also be used to predict additional possibilities--just like a theory. Scientific models have limitations for the following reasons:

1) It was once believed that for a thing to be true, a model of how it works should be possible. This is no longer held to be true. Many phenomena in quantum mechanics have no models.

2) All scientific models must have specified limits. Beyond these limits the behavior might be impossible to predict.

3) All logical analogies, including scientific models, are claims that because certain elements are the same in both the phenomena and the model, then other (perhaps unnamed things) are likewise true. But this is just a claim.

Answer 3

The limitations of a model are that it will typically not have all the features of the finished product. A model may also be misleading as some features might turn out to be impractical when scaled up to the actual product.

Answer 4

The model is only as accurate as the data that has been gathered.

Answer 5

i think the limitations are u can see computer modls but u cant feel them and phyiscal models u can touch and an idea model u think of

Answer 6

the ability to change