One way we can tell different solids apart is by comparing what these solids look like from different views. By being seeing what a solid will look like from a particular angle, we can recognise different solid shapes in our world by connecting them to how they look from different views.
When looking at a prism, we can look at the prism from a 3D view or from one of the 2D views.
A 3D view of the prism shows us what the whole solid looks like from an angle. From this perspective, we can see the faces that will be visible when looked at directly from one of the 2D views.
The 2D views show what the solid looks like when viewed directly from the front, side or top.
In the 3D view of this rectangular prism we can see the sides that will be visible in the 2D views. In each 2D view we look at the rectangular prism directly from either the front, side or top.
As we can see from the images, the front, side and top views are all 2D shapes that match the faces of the prism visible from each view when looked at directly.
The plan view is another name for the top view and is used in architecture when referring to the plan of a building, which is how the building looks when viewed from directly above.
Since the 2D views of a solid only show what the solid looks like directly from one angle, these views cannot show depth like how a 3D view can.
A 2D view might also show a side that we can't see from the 3D view.
Consider the different views of this trapeziumal prism.
What is the front view?
What is the side view?
What is the top view?
Choose the solid that would have this front view:
When looking at a prism, we can look at the prism from a 3D view or from one of the 2D views.
The 2D views show what the solid looks like when viewed directly from the front, side or top.
Since the 2D views of a solid only show what the solid looks like directly from one angle, these views cannot show depth like how a 3D view can.
2D views can't show that one end is further away than the other or that one side of a solid is curved when we look directly at it.