Abstract

Citation

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• William (Bill) Skerbitz (2022). 1-084-GoingViral-ModelingScenario. SIMIODE, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/7B4A-GD67

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Article Context

Description

We wish to model the spread of a non-fatal but incurable virus throughout a healthy (i.e. non-infected) population.  We will then analyze the model by considering two viewpoints. 

First, we will simulate the behavior of the model in order to obtain a plot of the number of people infected versus time and to get an intuitive “feel” for how the spread of the virus progresses. 

Then, we will analyze the expected behavior of the spread of the virus in order to develop a differential equation whose behavior matches, at least qualitatively, the behavior of the data obtained via the simulation. 

Finally, we will test and compare our two approaches by solving the differential equation analytically and observing how well it fits the simulated data. 

Our tasks will include: 1) Consider Assumptions, 2) Devise and Perform a Simulation, 3) Devise a Differential Equation, 4) Solve the Differential Equation, 5) Compare Plots of the Results, and 6) Summarize and Comment.

Students solve the differential equation and compare the solution to the results of the simulation.  The entire class participates in this in-class activity and discussion.