Toy model

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 or extending 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.

See also

• Physical model
• Spherical cow
• Toy problem
• Toy theorem