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Good use of image recognition etc. to solve a simple problem. Good for discussions on how far we take automation.

Good connections of models with environment.

Could raise interesting questions in many fields - military, traffic, advances in automobiles etc.

"As the Formula One world waits to see who will win this season's title, behind the scenes the teams are already modelling and testing the cars which will appear on the tracks next year." Includes details of the hardware required to implement these models.

(video) Nice animation of a car crash model.

This is a model of energy flow in the earth, particularly heat energy. It shows the earth as rose colored, and the surface of the planet is represented by a black strip. Above the strip there is a blue atmosphere and black space at the top. Clouds and carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules can be added to the atmosphere. The CO2 molecules represent greenhouse gases that block infrared light that is emitted by the earth. Clouds block incoming or outgoing sun rays, influencing the heating up or cooling down of the planet.

"This model simulates the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), via sexual transmission, through a small isolated human population." Quite interesting as a discussion of models and their accuracy, especially since this model only discusses one form of HIV transmission.

(video) "This visualization shows the collapse of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, part of Washingtons State Route 99, and adjacent seawall due to a seismic event. The simulated earthquake is similar to the 2001 Nisqually earthquake but lasts longer, is closer to Seattle, or has a slightly greater magnitude." This video always seems to catch students' attention, particularly if you live in an earthquake zone. Good discussion starter.

(video) CFD of airflow over a Formula 1 car

(video) Very short (7 secs) video of a computer modelling a driver and airbag during a crash. Useful to stimulate conversation about the types of variables a computer model must consider in order to be effective.

"With oil from BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig continuing to spew into the Gulf of Mexico researchers from the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have produced an animated computer simulation that shows the potential spread of the oil over a period of 360 days from when the spill started. To calculate the particle dispersal the researchers used ocean flow data from simulations conducted with the high-resolution Ocean General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator (OFES)."

Satellite technology has enabled us to understand the importance of the oceans in storing heat energy and regulating climate. Research scientist Lee Lueng-Fu explains how a satellite was able to track the development of the El Nino affect for the first time. El Nino caused weather events around the world - droughts, bushfires, storms. The latest generation of satellites are now used to improve climate change models. Computer graphics of satellite images show effects of climate change.

This page explains with in quite a lot of detail the types of systems that climate models simulate. Clear explanations. The page also covers the accuracy of models and explains how accuracy can be tested.

This page explains with helpful diagrams how climate models work, the kind of variables that are models, and provides a good basis for a discussion on what might be missing.