A prism will displace light towards its _____ while the image being viewed will be displaced towards its _____.

• A. Base, apex
• B. Apex, base
• C. Center, edge
• D. Vertex, base

Answer: (A)

When light passes through a prism, refraction occurs at both surfaces, and the overall bend of the light rays is toward the base of the prism (the wider side opposite the apex). This is why the light itself is displaced toward the base as it traverses the prism. But the image you perceive through the prism comes from tracing those refracted rays back into the air. Those backward extensions intersect at a point that lies toward the apex side, so the viewed image appears displaced toward the apex. In short, the prism refracts the actual light toward the base, while the apparent position of the object shifts toward the apex.