rectangular prism

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rectangular prism" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a three-dimensional object with two parallel ends that are rectangular and all other faces are rectangular as well. For example, "The geometry teacher demonstrated the properties of a rectangular prism by using a cube."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Low-speed galloping type instability occurs for a shallow depth rectangular prism.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Pressure fields around a rectangular prism were studied using a new turbulence-generation technique.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

A nucleus of poroelastic strain is numerically integrated over a rectangular prism assuming constant pressure change.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Instead, Dorothy believed, Rosalind should have been considering only the implications of the third monoclinic space group (a rectangular prism of three unequal axes).

MIT Technology Review

The rocking motion of a rigid rectangular prism on a moving base is a complex three dimensional phenomenon.

International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics

Apparently composed of a rectangular prism intersecting with an oblique column, this gadget was not created with subtlety in mind.

TechCrunch

Figure 6 illustrates the equivalent resistance network of some adjacent rectangular prism cells (XY plane view).

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The four kinds of blade shapes are triangular prism, rectangular prism, hexagonal prism, and cylinder.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The standard Wiimote controller is an elongated, rectangular prism that players point at the screen.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The results indicated that preservice teachers encountered difficulties in naming rectangular prism-square prism and rectangular pyramid-rectangular prism as well as in drawing these three-dimensional solid figures from their corresponding nets.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Exponential roughness layer and analytical model for turbulent boundary layer flow over rectangular-prism roughness elements.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When calculating the volume of a "rectangular prism", ensure you are using consistent units for length, width, and height.

Common error

Avoid confusing the surface area with the volume of a "rectangular prism". Surface area measures the total area of all the faces, while volume measures the space it occupies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rectangular prism" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig's examples show it referring to geometric shapes, physical objects, or abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Wiki

35%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rectangular prism" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe a three-dimensional shape with rectangular faces. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to denote a specific geometric form, appearing frequently in scientific, wiki, and news contexts. While alternatives like "cuboid" exist, understanding the formula for volume and surface area is crucial for accurate application. Remember to maintain consistent units and avoid confusing area with volume when working with this geometric solid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cuboid

Replaces "prism" with a synonym, maintaining the rectangular shape.

right rectangular prism

Specifies that the angles are right angles.

rectangular parallelepiped

Uses a more technical term for the same shape.

box-shaped object

Describes the shape in a more general, less technical way.

block-shaped object

Similar to "box-shaped object", but uses "block" instead.

three-dimensional rectangle

Emphasizes the three-dimensional nature of the shape.

elongated cube

Describes a rectangular prism where one dimension is significantly longer than the others.

cuboidal shape

Adjectival form describing something having the shape of a cuboid.

brick shape

Uses a common object as an analogy.

geometric solid

More generic phrase to refer to geometric object.

FAQs

How do I calculate the volume of a "rectangular prism"?

The volume of a "rectangular prism" is calculated by multiplying its length, width, and height: V = lwh.

What is the difference between a cube and a "rectangular prism"?

A cube is a special type of "rectangular prism" where all sides (length, width, and height) are equal. All cubes are rectangular prisms, but not all rectangular prisms are cubes.

How do I find the surface area of a "rectangular prism"?

The surface area of a "rectangular prism" is found by adding the areas of all six faces. The formula is SA = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh.

What are some alternative terms for "rectangular prism"?

Synonyms include "cuboid" and "rectangular parallelepiped". You can also describe it as a box-shaped or block-shaped object.