I believe that the issue of "which model is correct" misses the point. The
point is that models are a construct to help us understand the world.
Models can explain and predict. Models have limitations. Use the different
models for light as a means for discussing the "nature of models" as well as
the "nature of light."
The Benchmarks for Science Literacy states it this way:
"Different models can be used to represent the same thing. What kind of
model ot use and how complex it should be depends on its purpose. The
usefulness of a model may be limited if it is too simple or it is needlessly
complicated. Choosing a useful model is one of the instances in which
intuition and creativity come into play in science, mathematics, and
engineering."
"The usefulness of a model can be tested by comparing its predictions to
actual observations in the real world. But a close match does not
necessarily mean that the model is the only "true" model or the only one
that would work."
Larry Woolf;General Atomics;3550 General Atomics Court,San Diego,CA
92121;Phone:858-455-4475;FAX:858-455-4268;http://www.sci-ed-ga.org
-----Original Message-----
From: kowalskil
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 10:09 AM
Subject: Voting on LIGHT (was energy with Q)
Then we have to vote about light. Should we think
about it in terms of rays ("an abomination which has
been carried over from the Dark Ages", as Jim wrote
about caloric) or in terms of waves? And what about
the third option, photons? And what about Option 4,
or option 5? All are useful models, otherwise they
would not count as options.
Ludwik Kowalski