Boundary and Initial Conditions

Thinking in Systems - Level 6 - Boundary and Initial Conditions
In this video Paul Andersen shows conceptual thinking in a mini-lesson on boundary and initial conditions within systems. Two examples are included in the video and two additional examples are included in the linked thinking slides.

TERMS:
Boundary conditions - the dividing line between system and environment
Initial condition - the beginning state of the system
Inputs - what is put into the system
Outputs - what comes out of the system

This progression is based on the Crosscutting Concept elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education. "When investigating or describing a system, the boundary conditions and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models."