Final answer:
Collections are three-dimensional groups of objects that require careful care and management, while systems are objects or collections of objects without any internal structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Collections versus Systems
Collections and systems are both objects or groups of objects but they have different characteristics. Collections are three-dimensional groups of objects that are usually housed separately and require careful care and management. They can consist of tens of thousands of individual cultural objects. On the other hand, systems are objects or collections of objects without any internal structure. They are defined by their boundaries and all external forces are considered external to the system.
Examples
Examples of collections include basketry, pottery, or manuscript collections. These collections require more care and management than manuscript materials. Examples of systems could include an ecological system like a forest ecosystem or a mechanical system like a car engine.