Content
Spheres, cylinders, prisms, right cones, right pyramids, and combinations of solids
Want a deeper conceptual understanding? Try our interactive lesson! (Plus Only)
No exercises available for this concept.
Practice exam-style 3d solids problems
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 βAβ and volume βVβ of a sphere are given by:
Powered by Desmos
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 βVβ of a cylinder with radius βrβ is given by:
The curved surface of a cylinder (excluding the circular ends) is given by:
If we include the circular ends, each with area βΟr2, we get
Powered by Desmos
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 basesβfor example, triangular prism, rectangular prism, or hexagonal prism.
The volume βVβ of a prism is calculated by multiplying the area βAβ of its base by its height βh:
Powered by Desmos
Powered by Desmos
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 βr.
Apex (Vertex): The point directly above the center of the base.
Height (βhβ): Perpendicular distance from apex to base center.
Slant Height (βlβ): Distance along the cone's surface from apex to edge of base.
Formulas:
Volume:
Surface Area of curved surface:
Slant Height Relationship:
Powered by Desmos
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 (βhβ): perpendicular distance from apex to base centroid
Slant height (βlβ): distance along a lateral face from the apex perpendicular to an edge of the base
The volume of a right pyramid is given by
where βAβ is the area of the base.
Powered by Desmos