When you hear the word model, you probably think of a toy-like car or airplane that is a smaller version of the real thing. Scientific models are a representation of objects, systems or events and are used as tools for understanding the natural world. Models use familiar objects to represent unfamiliar things.

Models can help you visualize, or picture in your mind, something that is difficult to see or understand. Models can help scientists communicate their ideas, understand processes, and make predictions. The chart below shows examples of what models can represent.