Structure facts for kids
Structure is a basic idea in science. It means how different parts are put together. Everything around us has a structure. Think about buildings, machines, rocks, or even the organs inside your body. They all have a specific way their parts are arranged. Even a sentence has a structure, and so does music!
What are the different types of structure?
Physical structure
In engineering and architecture, a structure is something that can hold up weight or loads. These can be natural, like rock formations or skeletons. Or they can be man-made, such as buildings, bridges, and machines.
Biological structure
In biology, structures are often arranged from the smallest parts to the largest. Bigger parts are made from many smaller parts joined together. For example, tiny atoms and molecules form cells. Cells then form tissues, which make up organs. Organs work together in an organism (like you!). Organisms live in populations, and populations live in ecosystems.
Chemical structure
Chemical structure describes the shape of a molecule and how its atoms are arranged. A structural formula is like a map. It shows you exactly how the atoms are connected in a chemical compound. For example, a protein structure shows the 3D shape of a protein molecule.
Social structure
Social structure is about how people organize themselves. It also describes how they relate to each other in groups or institutions. Different roles have different levels of power. This helps society work in an organized way. For instance, in a family, there are roles like father, mother, son, and daughter. Other examples of social structures include nations, schools, and business organizations.
Data structure
In computer science, a data structure is a way to organize and store data inside a computer. This makes it easy to find and use the information later. Different types of data are stored in different ways. This depends on what the information is and how it will be used. Some data structures are linear (in a line), while others are non-linear (like a tree with branches).
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A traditional Sami food storage structure
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A ribbon drawing showing the 3D structure of a protein called triosephosphate isomerase
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A small part of a musical piece by Frédéric Chopin
Related topics
- Structural engineering is about designing and building structures.
- To learn about structuralism, you can look up Claude Lévi-Strauss.
See also
In Spanish: Estructura para niños
