Simulation

A representation of a system or process that reproduces selected aspects of its behavior, allowing them to be explored under chosen conditions.

Mathematical model: A mathematical description of a system, expressed through variables, equations, and assumptions. Many simulations translate a mathematical model into operations that evolve over time.
Climate model: A mathematical representation of Earth's climate system used to study its dynamics and possible futures. Climate models simulate interactions among atmosphere, oceans, land, and ice.
Analytical solution: An exact mathematical expression that solves a problem or equation under specified assumptions. Unlike many simulations, an analytical solution gives a direct expression rather than sampled numerical behavior.
System: A set of interacting components considered together as a coherent whole. A simulation begins by defining the system and the components whose behavior matters.
In silico: A phrase describing research or processes performed by computer simulation. Simulations enable computational investigations that complement laboratory and field work.
Numerical analysis: The study of algorithms for obtaining approximate numerical solutions to mathematical problems. Numerical methods turn equations that lack practical exact solutions into simulated results.
Flight simulator: A system that reproduces aircraft controls and flight conditions for pilot training or testing. It provides a controlled simulation of flight without requiring an actual aircraft.
Physical model: A tangible, often scaled representation of an object or system used for study or demonstration. A physical model represents a system materially, while a simulation represents its behavior through a model.
Abstraction: The process of emphasizing selected features of something while omitting others. Abstraction sets which real-world details a simulation includes or leaves out.
Simulation hypothesis: The philosophical proposal that reality could be an artificial simulation produced by advanced technology. The concept of simulation also prompts questions about whether an entire experienced world could be simulated.

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