A prism is a three-dimensional solid object in which the two ends are identical. It is the combination of the flat faces, identical bases, and equal cross-sections. The faces of the prism are named based on the shape of their bases, and prisms can be categorized into different types, including triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal prisms. Prisms can also be classified as regular or irregular, depending on whether the bases are in the shape of a regular or irregular polygon.
A prism has two identical bases and lateral faces that are also identical to each other and belong to the class of parallelograms. The lateral faces can either be parallelograms, rectangles, or even squares since all of them have their opposite sides parallel to each other. The top and bottom faces of a prism are called bases, while the other faces are called lateral faces.
Prisms are used in optics to separate white light into its constituent colors, called a spectrum. They are also used in certain spectroscopes, instruments for analyzing light and for determining the identity and structure of materials that emit or absorb light.
