Changes

==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

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]].

[[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.

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]].

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]].

[[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.

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.

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]].