Give three real-world examples of rectangular prisms. Then give two real-world examples of triangular prisms. Explain how you know the object you chose represents a prism.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Rectangular Prisms:
- Shipping Box: A common shipping box is shaped like a rectangular prism. It has rectangular faces, and the opposite faces are identical in size and shape. A shipping box is a perfect example of a rectangular prism because the sides are straight, and the cross-sectional area remains constant from one end to the other.
- Brick: A brick used in construction is another example of a rectangular prism. The brick has six rectangular faces, with opposite faces being identical in size. The shape remains consistent throughout, and each face is a rectangle, which qualifies it as a rectangular prism.
- Refrigerator: The shape of a standard refrigerator is also a rectangular prism. It has a rectangular front and back, with identical rectangular sides and top and bottom faces. The shape is consistent throughout the entire length, and all faces are flat and rectangular.
Triangular Prisms:
- Pencil: A standard pencil can be viewed as a triangular prism. The shape of the pencil is formed by a triangular cross-section at the tip, and the sides are elongated, giving the pencil a constant triangular cross-section from one end to the other.
- Roof Truss: The truss used in constructing a roof is often a triangular prism. The cross-section of the truss is triangular, and the length of the truss is consistent, creating a shape that has identical triangular cross-sections along its length.
Explanation:
A prism is defined as a 3D shape that has two identical, parallel bases, and the other faces are parallelograms. In the case of rectangular prisms, the bases are rectangles, and the sides of the object are perpendicular to the base, making the shape consistent throughout. The defining characteristic of a rectangular prism is that all its faces are rectangles, and the shape does not change along its length.
For triangular prisms, the shape has two identical triangular bases, and the other faces are parallelograms (usually rectangles). The defining feature is that the cross-section along the length of the object is a triangle. Each of the two triangular faces remains congruent throughout, and the object maintains this triangular shape from one end to the other.
