State (disambiguation) facts for kids

The word state can mean many different things! It's used in politics, science, and even computer science. This article will help you understand some of the most common ways we use the word "state," especially when talking about countries and how things exist in the world.

What is a State?

When we talk about a "state" in politics, we usually mean a country or a nation. A state is a group of people living in a defined area. This area has its own government. The government makes laws and rules for everyone living there. Think of countries like France, Japan, or Brazil. Each of these is a state.

States as Countries

A state, in this sense, has control over its own land. It also has the power to make its own decisions. This means other countries usually recognize it as independent. This idea of being independent is called sovereignty.

Different Kinds of Countries

Sometimes, you might hear about different types of states:

• A city-state is a city that acts like its own independent country. Ancient Athens and Sparta were famous city-states. Today, Singapore is an example of a modern city-state.
• A nation-state is a country where most of the people share a common culture, language, or history. They feel like they belong together as one "nation." Japan is often seen as a good example of a nation-state.

States in the United States

The United States is a big country. It is made up of 50 smaller parts. Each of these parts is also called a "state." For example, California, Texas, and Florida are all U.S. states. These U.S. states are not independent countries. They are part of the larger United States. They have their own governments and laws. However, they must also follow the laws of the national government. You can think of a U.S. state like a province in Canada or a prefecture in Japan.

States in Science

In science, the word "state" means something different. It describes how matter exists. Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass.

States of Matter

You probably already know about the three main states of matter:

• Solid: In a solid, particles are packed tightly together. They vibrate in place. Solids have a definite shape and volume. Think of an ice cube or a rock.
• Liquid: In a liquid, particles are close but can slide past each other. Liquids have a definite volume. However, they take the shape of their container. Water is a common liquid.
• Gas: In a gas, particles are far apart and move freely. Gases do not have a definite shape or volume. They spread out to fill any container. The air we breathe is a mixture of gases.

There are other states of matter too. For example, plasma is a state of matter found in stars.