System Diagram Gallery
Visual examples of different systems.
Click to zoom
Different fields study different systems, but they all share structures, components, and functions.
Understand and accurately use vocabulary related to systems, their parts, and their purposes.
Preview · progress not saved — Chapter 1 is free
Introduction to system words used across science and social science.
When we describe how things work—whether it's a car, a cell, or a country—we often use simple words like part, job, and whole. To speak and write at an academic level, we need to upgrade these simple words to precise technical vocabulary.
Instead of just saying a bicycle is "made of parts that do jobs," we say it is a system made of components that perform specific functions.
Visual examples of different systems.
Different fields study different systems, but they all share structures, components, and functions.
A flow map connecting system vocabulary.
These images explain the different parts and patterns that make up everything around us. They help us understand how things are built and how they work together.
System: A system is a group of parts that work together to do a job. The doodle shows a clock with many gears turning at once to move the hands and tell the time.
Structure: This is the way parts are put together to give something its shape. The doodle shows the wooden frame of a house that holds everything up.
Function: Function is the special job or purpose that something has. The umbrella has the function of keeping the person dry from the giant rain drop.
Component: A component is one single part of a larger machine or object. The red gear is a single component that fits inside the box with other gears to help them move.
Element: An element is one basic part or piece of a pattern. The doodle shows a quilt made of many squares, where one square is a single element of the whole design.
Feature: A feature is a special part of something that makes it useful or different. The backpack has a bright green front pocket, which is a specific feature for holding small items.
Factor: A factor is something that helps cause a result or change. The sun is a factor on the scale because its light and heat help the small plant grow.
Role: A role is the specific task or position someone has in a group. The pencil has the role of a teacher because it is leading and giving directions to the notebooks.
Match system vocabulary to their precise meanings.
Terms
Definitions
Categorize terms into components, functions, or roles.
Terms
Definitions
AI-evaluated sentence writing using system vocabulary.
Choose your target words before drafting.
Ensure your sentence is formal, accurate, and clearly shows the meaning of the words.