Final answer:
A cross-section is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object cut along a plane, showing internal details like materials and support systems. It is important in fields like geology, art, and medicine for understanding internal structures, perspective, and anatomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes how objects or structures appear when 'cut' vertically, revealing important information about materials, fastening and support systems, and concealed features, is known as a cross-section. A cross-section provides a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object or structure along a plane. This view is essential for understanding the inner workings that are not visible from the outside. For example, in geology, observing the dip of any contacts in a cross-section can indicate the orientation and angle of geological layers.
In art, a cross-section analogy can be applied to understand linear perspective, as seen in paintings where lines called orthogonals converge at a vanishing point to suggest depth. In medicine, 'virtual sections' obtained through scans allow clinicians to view the internal aspects of a body based on the plane in which the section was made. Understanding cross-sections in various fields is crucial for analyzing structures, interpreting artworks, and assessing medical images.