Prisms
Prisms
Prisms
A prism has the same cross section all along its length !
A cross section is the shape you get when cutting straight across an object.
The cross section of this object is a triangle ... .. it has the same cross section all along its length ... ... and so it's a triangular prism.
Try drawing a shape on a piece of paper (using straight lines!), Then imagine it extending up from the sheet of paper, - that's a prism !
No Curves!
A prism is a polyhedron, which means the cross section will be a polygon (a straight-edged figure) ... so all sides will be flat! No curved sides. For example, a cylinder is not a prism, because it has curved sides.
Cube:
Cross-Section:
(yes, a cube is a prism, because it is a square all along its length) (Also see Rectangular Prisms ) Triangular Prism: Cross-Section:
Pentagonal Prism:
Cross-Section:
Volume of a Prism
The Volume of a prism is simply the area of one end times the length of the prism Volume = Area Length Example: What is the volume of a prism whose ends have an area of 25 in2 and which is 12 in long: Answer: Volume = 25 in2 12 in = 300 in3 (Note: we have an Area Calculation Tool)
The sides of a prism are parallelograms (flat shapes that have opposites sides parallel).
A prism can lean to one side, making it an oblique prism, but the two ends are still parallel, and the sides are still parallelograms!
Polyhedrons
A polyhedron is a solid with flat faces (from Greek poly- meaning "many" and -edron meaning "face"). Each face is a polygon (a flat shape with straight sides). So, to be a polyhedron there should be no curved surfaces.
Examples of Polyhedra:
Triangular Prism
Cube
Dodecahedron
Common Polyhedra
Platonic Solids
Prisms
Pyramids
Many More
Explore 100s of Animated Polyhedron Models. You can also see some Images of Polyhedra if you want.
It is known as Euler's Formula (or the "Polyhedral Formula") and is very useful to make sure you have counted correctly!
But there are cases where it does not work! Read Euler's Formula for more.
Polygons
A polygon is a plane shape with straight sides.
Is it a Polygon?
Polygons are 2-dimensional shapes. They are made of straight lines, and the shape is "closed" (all the lines connect up).
Polygon
Not a Polygon
Not a Polygon
(straight sides)
(has a curve)
Polygon comes from Greek. Poly- means "many" and -gon means "angle".
Types of Polygons
Simple or Complex
A simple polygon has only one boundary, and it doesn't cross over itself. A complex polygon intersects itself! Many rules about polygons don't work when it is complex.
A convex polygon has no angles pointing inwards. More precisely, no internal angles can be more than 180. If there are any internal angles greater than 180 then it is concave. (Think: concave has a "cave" in it)
Concave
If all angles are equal and all sides are equal, then it is regular, otherwise it is irregular
Regular
Irregular
More Examples
Concave Octagon
Irregular Hexagon
Names of Polygons
If it is a Regular Polygon... Name Triangle (or Trigon) Sides 3 Shape Interior Angle 60
90
Pentagon
108
Hexagon
120
128.571
Octagon
135
140
Decagon
10
144
11
147.273
Dodecagon Triskaidecagon Tetrakaidecagon Pentadecagon Hexakaidecagon Heptadecagon Octakaidecagon Enneadecagon Icosagon Triacontagon Tetracontagon
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 30 40
150 152.308 154.286 156 157.5 158.824 160 161.053 162 168 171
Pentacontagon Hexacontagon Heptacontagon Octacontagon Enneacontagon Hectagon Chiliagon Myriagon Megagon Googolgon n-gon
172.8 174 174.857 175.5 176 176.4 179.64 179.964 ~180 ~180 (n-2) 180 / n
For polygons with 13 or more sides, it is OK (and easier) to write "13-gon", "14-gon" ... "100-gon", etc.