Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Toy model

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In the modeling of physics, a toy model is a deliberately simplistic model with many details removed so that it can be used to explain a mechanism concisely. It is also useful in a description of the fuller model.

  • In "toy" mathematical models, this is usually done by reducing the number of dimensions or reducing the number of fields/variables or restricting them to a particular symmetric form.
  • In "toy" physical descriptions, an analogous example of an everyday mechanism is often used for illustration.

    • The phrase "tinker-toy model" is also used, in reference to the popular Tinkertoys used for children's constructivist learning.

    Examples

    Examples of toy models in physics include:

  • the Ising model as a toy model for ferromagnetism, or lattice models more generally;
  • orbital mechanics as described by assuming that Earth is attached to the Sun by an elastic band;
  • Hawking radiation around a black hole described as conventional radiation from a fictitious membrane at radius r=2M (the black hole membrane paradigm);
  • frame-dragging around a rotating star considered as the effect of space being a conventional viscous fluid.

    • References

    Toy model Wikipedia
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