Final answer:
Hawaii is significantly larger than Rhode Island, featuring a chain of 137 islands and atolls and diverse microclimates, while Rhode Island is the smallest US state with a more uniform continental climate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between the areas of Hawaii and Rhode Island can be understood in terms of their geographical size and territorial extent. Hawaii and Rhode Island are two US states that vastly differ in size and geographic makeup. Hawaii, consisting of approximately 137 islands and atolls, stretches about 1,500 miles across the Central Pacific. It is known for its tropical climate, diverse landscape, and volcanic origins, due to an undersea magma source known as a hotspot. Rhode Island, on the other hand, is the smallest US state in terms of land area. When comparing the two, Hawaii's expansive territory, which includes high mountain peaks and varied microclimates, starkly contrasts Rhode Island's compact, primarily continental climate and smaller landmass.