3D solids - Exercises | IB Math AAHL | Perplex

3D solids

Spheres, cylinders, prisms, right cones, right pyramids, and combinations of solids

Want a deeper conceptual understanding? Try our interactive lesson! (Plus Only)

Exercises

No exercises available for this concept.

Practice exam-style 3d solids problems

Key Skills

Spheres

SL Core 3.1

A sphere is a perfectly round, three-dimensional geometric shape where every point on its surface is exactly the same distance (the radius) from a single central point. It's the three-dimensional analog of a circle. For example, a ball or globe is spherical in shape. The surface area A and volume V of a sphere are given by:

AV=4πr2=34πr3

Cylinders

SL 3.prior

A cylinder is a three-dimensional geometric shape formed by two identical circular bases connected by a curved lateral surface. The segment connecting the centers of the circular bases is called the axis, which is perpendicular to each base in a right cylinder (the type usually studied).

The volume V of a cylinder with radius r is given by:

V=πr2h📖

The curved surface of a cylinder (excluding the circular ends) is given by:

A=2πrh📖

If we include the circular ends, each with area πr2, we get

A=2πr(r+h)🚫

Volume of a prism

SL 3.prior

A prism is a three-dimensional solid shape consisting of two parallel, congruent faces called bases, connected by rectangular lateral faces. Prisms are named according to the shape of their bases—for example, triangular prism, rectangular prism, or hexagonal prism.

The volume V of a prism is calculated by multiplying the area A of its base by its height h:

V=Ah

Right cones

SL Core 3.1

A right circular cone is a three-dimensional geometric shape whose apex (vertex) lies directly above the center of its circular base.

Key Parts:

Circular Base: Flat circle with radius r.
Apex (Vertex): The point directly above the center of the base.
Height (h): Perpendicular distance from apex to base center.
Slant Height (l): Distance along the cone's surface from apex to edge of base.

Formulas:

Volume:

V=31πr2h📖

Surface Area of curved surface:

A=πrl📖

Slant Height Relationship:

l=√r2+h2🚫

Right Pyramid

SL Core 3.1

A right pyramid is a three-dimensional shape with a polygonal base and triangular lateral faces, in which the apex (vertex) is located directly above the center (centroid) of the base.

Key Parts:

Polygonal base: a flat polygon (triangle, square, pentagon, etc.)
Apex (vertex): the point positioned vertically above the base's centroid
Height (h): perpendicular distance from apex to base centroid
Slant height (l): distance along a lateral face from the apex perpendicular to an edge of the base

The volume of a right pyramid is given by

V=31A×h

where A is the area of the base.

Spheres

SL Core 3.1

AV=4πr2=34πr3

Cylinders

SL 3.prior

The volume V of a cylinder with radius r is given by:

V=πr2h📖

The curved surface of a cylinder (excluding the circular ends) is given by:

A=2πrh📖

If we include the circular ends, each with area πr2, we get

A=2πr(r+h)🚫

Volume of a prism

SL 3.prior

The volume V of a prism is calculated by multiplying the area A of its base by its height h:

V=Ah

Right cones

SL Core 3.1

A right circular cone is a three-dimensional geometric shape whose apex (vertex) lies directly above the center of its circular base.

Key Parts:

Circular Base: Flat circle with radius r.
Apex (Vertex): The point directly above the center of the base.
Height (h): Perpendicular distance from apex to base center.
Slant Height (l): Distance along the cone's surface from apex to edge of base.

Formulas:

Volume:

V=31πr2h📖

Surface Area of curved surface:

A=πrl📖

Slant Height Relationship:

l=√r2+h2🚫

Right Pyramid

SL Core 3.1

A right pyramid is a three-dimensional shape with a polygonal base and triangular lateral faces, in which the apex (vertex) is located directly above the center (centroid) of the base.

Key Parts:

Polygonal base: a flat polygon (triangle, square, pentagon, etc.)
Apex (vertex): the point positioned vertically above the base's centroid
Height (h): perpendicular distance from apex to base centroid
Slant height (l): distance along a lateral face from the apex perpendicular to an edge of the base

The volume of a right pyramid is given by

V=31A×h

where A is the area of the base.