IB Computer Science - Option B - Modelling & Simulation Test with
Answers
1. Modelling The process of creating a computer model of a system to allow for recording of
relevant data and processing the data based on accurate rules to produce useful
output.
- Allows us to try and forecast information
2. Advantages of Mathematical models can easily be made using spreadsheet software which allows
Spreadsheets for formulas to be created and copied for large amounts of data, allows values to
Mathematical be looked up from lookup tables and data to be recorded and updated without
Modelling calculations having to be redone.
3. Simulation A simulation is a process of varying the inputs and/or rules of a mathematical
model to observe the ettects.
4. Visualisations Visualisations are graphical representations of the outputs of computer models or
simulations. Whether 2D or 3D they can be beneficial in communicating complex
data sets in a way that is easily and quickly understood by the audience e.g a large
number of temperature and location measurements can be grouped and plotted
on a map to be easily understood.
Visualisation is the process of taking a mathematical representation stored in
memory and generating and image from it.
5. Limitations of Computer models are designed by humans and so are limited by the designer
Computer Mod- selecting the correct data. They are also limited by the computer resources such
els as memory secondary storage and processor time e.g. a model of global climate
would require huge amounts of memory to store the many variables required.
- It is not possible to know all of the variables available
1/8
, IB Computer Science - Option B - Modelling & Simulation Test with
Answers
- Processing power and storage capacity are not limitless
- Models always involve assumptions
- Models only represent aspects which we are aware of, understand and can
quantify.
- A model could have a bug leading to false results.
- Human - incompleteness, choice, assumption
6. Grouping for Col- Data in a model should be grouped to allow for clarity e.g. a model of atmospheric
lections of Data measurements taken around the world could be grouped by the date taken and
Items organised on one row of a model. Grouping of data could also be used to find
trends in data and see the correlations.
7. Test Case to Eval- Test cases are used to identify if a model is functioning correctly. It specifies the
uate a Model inputs and expected outputs of a model. The actual outputs of the model are then
compared with the expected outputs to identify any problems with the model.
8. Effectiveness of - They need to test all possible inputs of a model, delete inputs and add inputs.
Test Case (test for normal, extreme and erroneous data)
- Check the model fully, not partially.
9. Discuss the Cor- The correctness of a model is how well the model reproduces actual data observed
rectness of a in the real world system. The more accurately outputs of the model reflect the actual
Model observed phenomena, the more correct it is.
10. Abstraction for The process of modelling involves creating abstractions of other systems that focus
Modelling on and include the relevant details of a system such as inputs, outputs and rules
but do not include every detail about the system.
11. Rules that - mathematical formulae
Process Data - pseudocode
- algorithms
- tables of inputs and output values
- detailed english description
2/8
Answers
1. Modelling The process of creating a computer model of a system to allow for recording of
relevant data and processing the data based on accurate rules to produce useful
output.
- Allows us to try and forecast information
2. Advantages of Mathematical models can easily be made using spreadsheet software which allows
Spreadsheets for formulas to be created and copied for large amounts of data, allows values to
Mathematical be looked up from lookup tables and data to be recorded and updated without
Modelling calculations having to be redone.
3. Simulation A simulation is a process of varying the inputs and/or rules of a mathematical
model to observe the ettects.
4. Visualisations Visualisations are graphical representations of the outputs of computer models or
simulations. Whether 2D or 3D they can be beneficial in communicating complex
data sets in a way that is easily and quickly understood by the audience e.g a large
number of temperature and location measurements can be grouped and plotted
on a map to be easily understood.
Visualisation is the process of taking a mathematical representation stored in
memory and generating and image from it.
5. Limitations of Computer models are designed by humans and so are limited by the designer
Computer Mod- selecting the correct data. They are also limited by the computer resources such
els as memory secondary storage and processor time e.g. a model of global climate
would require huge amounts of memory to store the many variables required.
- It is not possible to know all of the variables available
1/8
, IB Computer Science - Option B - Modelling & Simulation Test with
Answers
- Processing power and storage capacity are not limitless
- Models always involve assumptions
- Models only represent aspects which we are aware of, understand and can
quantify.
- A model could have a bug leading to false results.
- Human - incompleteness, choice, assumption
6. Grouping for Col- Data in a model should be grouped to allow for clarity e.g. a model of atmospheric
lections of Data measurements taken around the world could be grouped by the date taken and
Items organised on one row of a model. Grouping of data could also be used to find
trends in data and see the correlations.
7. Test Case to Eval- Test cases are used to identify if a model is functioning correctly. It specifies the
uate a Model inputs and expected outputs of a model. The actual outputs of the model are then
compared with the expected outputs to identify any problems with the model.
8. Effectiveness of - They need to test all possible inputs of a model, delete inputs and add inputs.
Test Case (test for normal, extreme and erroneous data)
- Check the model fully, not partially.
9. Discuss the Cor- The correctness of a model is how well the model reproduces actual data observed
rectness of a in the real world system. The more accurately outputs of the model reflect the actual
Model observed phenomena, the more correct it is.
10. Abstraction for The process of modelling involves creating abstractions of other systems that focus
Modelling on and include the relevant details of a system such as inputs, outputs and rules
but do not include every detail about the system.
11. Rules that - mathematical formulae
Process Data - pseudocode
- algorithms
- tables of inputs and output values
- detailed english description
2/8
