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Database Design
2-1: Conceptual & Physical Models
Practice Solutions
Vocabulary
Directions: Identify the vocabulary word for each definition below.

Physical model A design for an object (a car, a house, a database, etc.)

which includes implementation details such as size, volume,
weight, etc.)
Conceptual model A data model, usually represented by an entity relationship
diagram
Data A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
Data modeling The process of capturing the important concepts and rules
that shape a business and depicting them visually on a con-
ceptual model

Try It / Solve It
1. You will be working in pairs for this activity.

• One student describes his/her “dream house” while the other student attempts to draw
it.

You can discuss specific details, but the student describing the house is not allowed to
see what is being drawn until after time is called.

• After sharing your drawing, describe the importance of accurately describing infor-
mation requirements.

Solution: The objective of the dream-house activity is for students to demonstrate precise
communication as a means to facilitate discussion and prevent mistakes and misunder-
standings. Working in pairs, one student describes his/her “dream house” while the other
student attempts to draw it. The pairs can discuss specific details, but the student describ-
ing the house is not allowed to see what is being drawn until after time is called.

• Collect student drawings and tape to the board/wall.

• Ask volunteer student pairs to describe the discrepancies between what they
thought was being described and what was actually drawn.
• Solicit student ideas on how they would improve the communication process if they
were to do the same activity again.

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Possible answers may include: Describe shapes and colors. Describe relative sizes
(bigger than a hut, smaller than a hotel, etc.) Be specific (2 doors, 3 stories, 5 windows,
etc.). Make comparisons to known things (similar to Mary’s house, like a castle, etc.).
Other ways to test for understanding: Make sure that the students understand the differ-
ence between a conceptual and a physical data model by presenting examples and asking
them to identify them as conceptual or physical:
• Blueprint of a house versus a house
• Sketch of an outfit/dress/suit versus the real thing
• Recipe for a cake versus the cake itself

If you can show actual samples of the above (house plans, drawing of a dress/suit,
printout of a recipe), that would drive home the point even better. Feel free to supplement
with other examples that are more familiar or accessible to you.

2. Review the scenario below. Identify the conceptual model and the physical model from the
scenario.

Zoe was about to go into a store to purchase drinks for the birthday party scheduled for
that evening. Zoe knows that she needs drinks for 48 people and is expecting the store
to accept a check for payment and to provide her with some assistance carrying the
product to her car. Zoe wants to have carbonated drinks, non-carbonated drinks, and
sugar free drinks. She is expecting to purchase eight six-packs. Zoe enters the store
and discovers the entire drink distribution system is automated. She also discovers that
the drinks come in varying package sizes and that she must choose the correct vend-
ing option for the products to be disbursed. Drinks are packaged in four-packs, six-
packs, and ten-packs.

Solution:
Conceptual model – Selecting products, providing a check for payment to a person, and
having a person assist with carrying the products out of the store.
Physical implementation – Automated vending system requiring payment for each prod-
uct distributed. No one available to assist with carrying the products out of the store.

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respective owners.
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3. Provide five reasons for creating a conceptual data model.

Answers will vary but can include any of the following:

• Describe exactly the information needs of the business
• Facilitate discussion
• Prevent mistakes, misunderstandings
• Form important “ideal system” documentation
• Form a sound basis for physical database design
• Document the processes of the business (this is also known as the “business rules”)
• Take into account regulations and laws governing this industry

4. List two examples of conceptual models and physical models.

Answers will vary but should illustrate the understanding that the conceptual model is the
thought and the physical model includes the implementation details of the thought.

Copyright © 2015, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their
respective owners.