2D Vs. 3D Shapes: Understand the Difference Between 2D and 3D Shapes
Both of these are types of geometry. Geometry is basically the study of various shapes. It has a broad classification of two major types- plane geometry (2D shapes) and solid geometry (3D shapes). In this article, we will discuss the difference between 2D and 3D shapes. But let us first know a bit more about both of these.
The plane geometry is also known as two-dimensional geometry because it deals with all the flat figures that we can easily draw on paper. A few examples of such figures are curves, lines, quadrilaterals, polygons, etc. Conversely, solid geometry is also known as three-dimensional geometry because it deals with three-dimensional or solid shapes. A few examples of such figures are cones, cylinders, spheres, etc.
What are 2D Shapes?
The term 2D is an abbreviation for two-dimensional. It means that the 2D shapes have two dimensions, and they exist on the x-y plane. Thus, we can draw a 2D object using the X-axes and the Y-axes, as these figures lie flat on any given surface.
What are 3D Shapes?
The term 3D is an abbreviation for three-dimensional. It means that the 3D shapes have a total of three dimensions, and they occupy volume (along with area, like the 2D shapes). A lot of objects around us are 3D- bottles, books, Rubik’s cubes, balls, etc. One can draw a 2D object using the Z, Y, and Z axes because these occupy volume as well.
Difference Between 2D and 3D Shapes
| Parameters | 2D Shapes | 3D Shapes |
| Full-Form | The term 2D is an acronym for two-dimensional. | The term 3D is an acronym for three-dimensional. |
| Dimensions | Such shapes have a total of two dimensions. | Such shapes have a total of three dimensions. |
| Mathematical Axes | They exist on the X-axes and the Y-axes. | They exist on the X, Y, and Z-axes. |
| Area and Volume | These shapes only occupy an area. | These shapes occupy both area and volume because they have a depth/ height. |
| Type of View | The 2D shapes give us a simple view of any object. | The 3D shapes give us an architectural view of any object. |
| Visibility of Edges | Every edge is very clearly visible in the case of 2D shapes. | Some of the edges stay hidden and are not visible in the case of 3D shapes. |
| Ease of Explanation | It is very easy to explain a 2D shape because all of its edges are visible to us. | We can only explain the outer dimensions of a 3D shape because the rest of the edges are not visible to us. |
| Detailing | One can draw details on a 2D shape without any hassle. | It is very difficult to draw details in a 3D shape. |
| Ease of Drawing | 2D shapes are very basic, thus easy to draw. | 3D shapes are comparatively more complex and can sometimes be difficult to draw when combined together. |
| Examples | A few examples of the 2D shapes are rectangle, square, circle, triangle, or any other polygon. | A few examples of the 3D shapes are cuboid, cube, sphere, cone, prism, cylinder, pyramid, etc. |
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