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Passive dust (a passive dust model) in a hydrodynamic model is dust simulated to see how it reacts to fluids and other forces, i.e., how it spreads and dissipates, but without simulating the effects of the dust on other phenomena. (Possibly the term might be used merely to say only one or two of its influences are included.) Using it can be an approximation, such as to get a handle on what might cause some observed characteristics, and/or it may be tried to investigate the actions simulated. Examples of where it might be used include simulations of nebulae, atmospheres, or disks such as protoplanetary disks.
Note that the phrase passive dust is also sometimes found in phrases unrelated to the above-described passive dust model, in phrases such as passive dust collector or passive dust detector, where passive is meant to describe the collection/detection mechanism.