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| ==Etymology== | | ==Etymology== |
| [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] simulacion, from Anglo-French, from [[Latin]] simulation-, simulatio, from simulare | | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] simulacion, from Anglo-French, from [[Latin]] simulation-, simulatio, from simulare |
− | *Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century] | + | *Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1 : the [[act]] or [[process]] of simulating | | *1 : the [[act]] or [[process]] of simulating |
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| Key issues in simulation include acquisition of valid [[source]] [[information]] about the relevant selection of key characteristics and [[behaviors]], the use of simplifying approximations and [[assumptions]] within the simulation, and fidelity and [[validity]] of the simulation outcomes. | | Key issues in simulation include acquisition of valid [[source]] [[information]] about the relevant selection of key characteristics and [[behaviors]], the use of simplifying approximations and [[assumptions]] within the simulation, and fidelity and [[validity]] of the simulation outcomes. |
| ==Classification and terminology== | | ==Classification and terminology== |
− | [[Historically]], simulations used in [[different]] fields [[developed]] largely [[independently]], but 20th century [[studies]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory Systems theory] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics Cybernetics] combined with spreading use of computers across all those fields have led to some [[unification]] and a more systematic view of the [[concept]]. | + | [[Historically]], simulations used in [[different]] fields [[developed]] largely [[independently]], but 20th century [[studies]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory Systems theory] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics Cybernetics] combined with spreading use of computers across all those fields have led to some [[unification]] and a more systematic view of the [[concept]]. |
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| [[Physical]] simulation refers to simulation in which physical objects are substituted for the [[real]] [[thing]]. These [[physical]] objects are often chosen because they are smaller or cheaper than the [[actual]] object or system. | | [[Physical]] simulation refers to simulation in which physical objects are substituted for the [[real]] [[thing]]. These [[physical]] objects are often chosen because they are smaller or cheaper than the [[actual]] object or system. |
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| A computer simulation (or "sim") is an attempt to [[model]] a real-life or [[hypothetical]] situation on a computer so that it can be [[studied]] to see how the [[system]] works. By changing [[variables]], [[predictions]] may be made about the [[behavior]] of the [[system]]. | | A computer simulation (or "sim") is an attempt to [[model]] a real-life or [[hypothetical]] situation on a computer so that it can be [[studied]] to see how the [[system]] works. By changing [[variables]], [[predictions]] may be made about the [[behavior]] of the [[system]]. |
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− | Computer simulation has become a useful part of [[modeling]] many [[natural]] [[systems]] in [[physics]], [[chemistry]] and [[biology]], and human systems in [[economics]] and [[social science]] (the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_sociology computational sociology]) as well as in [[engineering]] to gain [[insight]] into the operation of those systems. A good example of the usefulness of using computers to simulate can be found in the field of network [[traffic]] simulation. In such simulations, the [[model]] [[behavior]] will [[change]] each simulation according to the set of initial [[parameters]] [[assumed]] for the [[environment]]. | + | Computer simulation has become a useful part of [[modeling]] many [[natural]] [[systems]] in [[physics]], [[chemistry]] and [[biology]], and human systems in [[economics]] and [[social science]] (the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_sociology computational sociology]) as well as in [[engineering]] to gain [[insight]] into the operation of those systems. A good example of the usefulness of using computers to simulate can be found in the field of network [[traffic]] simulation. In such simulations, the [[model]] [[behavior]] will [[change]] each simulation according to the set of initial [[parameters]] [[assumed]] for the [[environment]]. |
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| [[Traditionally]], the [[formal]] [[modeling]] of [[systems]] has been via a [[mathematical model]], which attempts to find [[analytical]] solutions enabling the [[prediction]] of the [[behavior]] of the system from a set of [[parameters]] and initial conditions. Computer simulation is often used as an adjunct to, or substitution for, modeling systems for which simple closed form analytic solutions are not possible. There are many [[different]] [[types]] of computer simulation, the common feature they all share is the attempt to generate a sample of [[representative]] scenarios for a [[model]] in which a complete enumeration of all possible [[states]] would be prohibitive or impossible. | | [[Traditionally]], the [[formal]] [[modeling]] of [[systems]] has been via a [[mathematical model]], which attempts to find [[analytical]] solutions enabling the [[prediction]] of the [[behavior]] of the system from a set of [[parameters]] and initial conditions. Computer simulation is often used as an adjunct to, or substitution for, modeling systems for which simple closed form analytic solutions are not possible. There are many [[different]] [[types]] of computer simulation, the common feature they all share is the attempt to generate a sample of [[representative]] scenarios for a [[model]] in which a complete enumeration of all possible [[states]] would be prohibitive or impossible. |
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− | Several software packages exist for running computer-based simulation modeling (e.g. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_method Monte Carlo] simulation, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stochastic stochastic modeling], multimethod modeling) that makes the modeling almost effortless. | + | Several software packages exist for running computer-based simulation modeling (e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_method Monte Carlo] simulation, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stochastic stochastic modeling], multimethod modeling) that makes the modeling almost effortless. |
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| Modern usage of the term "computer simulation" may [[encompass]] virtually any computer-based [[representation]]. | | Modern usage of the term "computer simulation" may [[encompass]] virtually any computer-based [[representation]]. |