What is a Prism?
In geometry, prism refers to a certain three-dimensional shape: a polyhedron or star polygon connected to an identical shape by rectangular sides. A cube or rectangular box is one example of this type of prism, but instead of having a rectangle on the top and bottom, as in this example, a geometrical prism may also have a triangle, a six-pointed star, or any other many-sided shape. In optics, a prism is a transparent object with smooth, flat sides that refracts light. Many optical prisms are also geometrical prisms, often triangular prisms, but they may also be other shapes. An optical prism is commonly made of glass or clear plastic, but any material may be used as long as it is transparent to the light source that is to be refracted. When light is refracted, its course is bent due to an obstacle in its pathway. You can see an example of refracted light by placing a pencil in a clear glass of water and observing how it appears to split where the water begins. This happens because wate
