THE INTERPRETATION OF COMPUTER SIMULATIONS IN THE FIELD OF CONDENSED MATTER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF IRREVERSIBILITY

Computer simulations have gained an important role in both theoretical and experimental physics. On the other hand any simulation is neither a theoretical model (being affected by error) nor an experimental result. In the field of science education this tool can help to give an insight on the relation between the assumptions made in the construction of a theory and the results obtained with it. We shall try to illustrate, using as examples a few models which bear little relation to "real" physical situations, how only very few characteristics and assumptions of any model or theory lead to a specific result and how the other ones make the model seem in some way related to the physical reality.