You are watching: Difference between a pyramid and a prism
A pyramid is a three-dimensional polyhedron. It has actually a base, which is a polygon. A polygon is any type of straight-sided shape, such together a triangle or a square. The basic is associated to the political parties or faces of the pyramid. The political parties of the pyramid will constantly be triangle in shape. The sides of the pyramid satisfy the top. This is dubbed the apex. Prisms are often used to display the dispersion the light right into its ingredient colors i.e the spectrum that light. Many of it has to do v the geometry and also the refractive table of contents of the material. Also, view the distinction between line spectrum and band spectrum.
There space many species of pyramids, such as triangular pyramids, pentagonal pyramids, etc. The kind of pyramid is figured out by the base. Because that example: a triangle pyramid will have actually a triangle base, when a square pyramid will have actually a square base, and also so on.
Also see: Difference between a parabola and hyperbola
A prism is also a three-dimensional polyhedron, but it looks very different native a pyramid. A prism has actually two similar ends and all level sides. The political parties or faces are perpendicular to the basic faces, i.e. They do a ideal angle through the base. In situation the sides are not perpendicular to the base it is dubbed an slope prism.
The prism is various than the pyramid in the it walk not have actually an apex. Instead, it deserve to be claimed that it has two bases. The bases are joined together by the sides. A means to identify the prism is to examine whether the cross-section that the prism is the same all along its length.
The ax prism has an additional connotation in optics. In optics, a prism is a item of glass, crystal, or plastic the bends light. This happens as light moves slower in the prism than in the air. The prism splits the light into a spectrum. The irradiate spectrum has actually the exact same colors as a rainbow. This refraction of irradiate is the exact same phenomenon that causes rainbows.
An easy means to distinguish in between a pyramid and also a prism is come associate an image with each word. For example, the pyramids of old Egypt are based upon the geometric pyramid. Vice versa, a prism watch nothing favor the pyramids of old Egypt, it looks much more like a time or the forms that video game that toddlers beat in i m sorry one has to sort prisms and insert them into holes.
See: circle Vs. Sphere
Difference between Pyramids and also Prisms:
| Pyramids | Prisms |
Subject | Geometry | Geometry, Optics |
Type of | Three-dimensional polyhedron | Three-dimensional polyhedron |
Description | A pyramid has actually a base, and all sides command from the basic to join at the optimal point. | A prism has actually two similar ends and also all flat sides. In optics, a prism is a item of glass, crystal, or plastic the bends light resulting in light to show up in the rainbow spectrums. |
Number of Bases | One Base | Two Bases. The bases are joined together by the sides. |
Type that Bases | Polygon | Polygon |
Sides | Sides space triangular in shape that meets at a allude on the top called an apex. | The sides or faces are perpendicular come the basic faces, i.e. They make a appropriate angle with the base. In situation the sides space not perpendicular come the base it is dubbed an tilt prism. |
Apex | Has an apex | Does not have an apex |
Types | Many, such together triangular pyramids, pentagonal pyramids, etc. The type is determined by the shape of the base. For example, a triangle pyramid will have actually a triangular base | Many, such together triangular prisms, pentagonal prisms, etc. The type is determined by the shape of the base. For example, a triangle prism will have triangular bases |