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Item MO095001: A model can predict the behavior of the object it represents (e.g., a car crashing into a wall), but the predicted behavior of the object may not be exactly the same as the actual behavior of the object because a model is never exactly the same as the object it represents.

Can a model of an object (such as a car) be used to predict how an object will behave in certain situations (such as crashing into a wall)?

  1. No, a model is only useful for communicating to others what an object is like, not for making predictions about how an object will behave.
  2. No, predictions made with a model are never useful because a model is never exactly the same as the object it represents.
  3. Yes, a model will behave exactly as the object it is representing behaves because a model is exactly the same as the object it represents.
  4. Yes, a model can predict the behavior of the object it represents, but the predicted behavior of the object may not be exactly the same as the actual behavior of the object because a model is never exactly the same as the object it represents.
Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 1584
6–8
n = 998
9–12
n = 579
Male
n = 759
Female
n = 791
English
n = 1445
Other
n = 96
A. 17% 19% 13% 20% 14% 16% 22%
B. 16% 18% 12% 16% 16% 16% 14%
C. 16% 17% 14% 17% 15% 16% 21%
D. 51% 45% 61% 48% 56% 52% 44%