Models Computational Physics

[Tim Burgess <tburgess@jaguar1.usouthal.edu>]

On Fri, 14 Mar 1997, Alex. F. Burr wrote:
> experience. The suggestion for a computational physics course was
> to create models. This creation is an entirely different kettle of
> fish (or learning experience). To create a model one MUST know the
> physics of the situation. One must know the approximations which can
> and should be made. When the model does not work like you expect
> ( believe me it will not) the learning experience of finding out
> why your expectations were not met is tremendous.
 
I like this descritpion but can students create a MODEL and not know the 
Physics of the situation? When comparing it to real world labs they would
then be confronted with contradictory results. They would then be forced to
modify the model and then learn the Physics? 
Is your model of the "Interactive Physics" or "Quantitative Expression" type?

Thanks. 

Tim