prism
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prism
A transparent body made of glass or plastic with at least two flat, non-parallel surfaces that refracts light. In optics, it is often used to split white light into its spectral colors.
Im Physikunterricht haben wir gelernt, wie ein Prisma das Sonnenlicht in einen Regenbogen aufspaltet.
In physics class, we learned how a prism splits sunlight into a rainbow.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Prisma' (prism) from the context: words like 'Licht' (light) or 'Farben' (colors) point to optics. The fixed expression 'durch das Prisma von/des' (through the prism of) signals the metaphorical meaning. Terms like 'geometrisch' (geometric) or 'Grundfläche' (base) point to mathematics.
Weißes Licht wird durch ein Prisma in seine Spektralfarben zerlegt.
White light is split into its spectral colors by a prism.
The metaphorical meaning is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'etwas durch das Prisma von/des ... sehen/betrachten' (to see/view something through the prism of ...). It is followed either by the genitive or by 'von' with the dative.
Er betrachtet die politische Lage nur durch das Prisma der Wirtschaft.
He views the political situation only through the prism of the economy.
In the optical context, 'Prisma' (prism) is often combined with verbs such as 'das Licht brechen' (to refract the light), 'zerlegen' (to break down/split), or 'aufspalten' (to split up).
Ein Prisma bricht das Licht in unterschiedlichen Winkeln.
A prism refracts light at different angles.
In geometry, the shape of the base is often named, for example 'ein dreiseitiges Prisma' (a triangular prism) or 'ein sechsseitiges Prisma' (a hexagonal prism).
Die Verpackung hat die Form eines dreiseitigen Prismas.
The packaging has the shape of a triangular prism.
mirror
'der Spiegel' and 'das Prisma' both have to do with light and glass, but they do different things. A mirror reflects light and shows an image of what is in front of it. A prism lets light pass through and refracts it; in the process, white light can be split into colors. The words can be confused because both occur in physics or optics and are often made of glass. For an image in the bathroom or in a car, you say 'Spiegel'. For experiments with light and colors, 'Prisma' is the right fit.
Im Experiment zeigt das Prisma die Farben des Lichts an der Wand.
In the experiment, the prism shows the colors of light on the wall.
Nach dem Duschen ist der Spiegel im Bad ganz beschlagen.
After showering, the mirror in the bathroom is completely fogged up.