Which term describes a physical copy of an object created to study its properties at different scales?

• A. Prototypes
• B. Scale models
• C. Surface modelling
• D. Solid modelling

Answer: (B)

Creating a physical copy at a different size from the original to study how it behaves is called a scale model. The idea is to keep the overall shape and key features, but adjust the size so you can observe things like fit, balance, ergonomics, or aerodynamics without building the full-size version. Scale models let you explore how the design will function in the real world and catch issues early, in a more economical way.

Prototypes focus on testing how the actual design works and performs, often at or near full size, which isn’t the same as studying behavior across different scales. Surface modelling and solid modelling are digital representations used in CAD to define shapes and volumes; they describe the design data, not physical copies at various scales.