prízma

Prízma is a term primarily used in optics to describe a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. A common form is a triangular prism, which is often used to disperse light into its constituent spectrum. When white light enters a prism, it is bent, and because different colors of light have slightly different wavelengths, they are refracted at slightly different angles. This separation of white light into a spectrum of colors, such as the rainbow seen after rain, is a fundamental optical phenomenon demonstrated by prisms.

Prisms can also be used for other optical purposes. Right-angled prisms, for instance, are often employed as mirrors in binoculars and other optical instruments because they can reflect light through total internal reflection. They can also invert or rotate images. The shape and material of a prism determine its optical properties, including its refractive index and the dispersion it exhibits. Beyond basic scientific demonstrations, prisms find applications in a wide range of technologies, from cameras and telescopes to spectrometers and fiber optics. The term prízma is also used metaphorically in other fields to describe a way of looking at or understanding something, where different aspects or viewpoints are separated and examined.