Glossary

12.3 Volume of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones

3 min read•july 22, 2024

Calculating volume is crucial for understanding three-dimensional shapes. We'll learn formulas for prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones, and how to apply them to real-world problems. These skills are essential for fields like engineering and architecture.

We'll also explore the fascinating relationships between different solid shapes. Did you know a pyramid's volume is just one-third of a prism with the same base and ? This knowledge helps us grasp the geometry of our 3D world.

Volume Formulas and Calculations

Volume formulas for prisms and cylinders

Top images from around the web for Volume formulas for prisms and cylinders

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Top images from around the web for Volume formulas for prisms and cylinders

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  • Volume of a prism calculated by multiplying the area of the base (BB) by the height (hh) of the prism: [V = Bh](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:v_=_bh)
  • Volume of a calculated using the formula V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h
    • rr represents the radius of the circular base
    • hh represents the height of the cylinder
  • Derivation of the cylinder volume formula involves imagining the cylinder as a stack of thin circular disks
    • Each disk has a volume of πr2Δh\pi r^2 \Delta h, where Δh\Delta h is the thickness of the disk
    • Total volume is the sum of all the disk volumes: V=πr2Δh1+πr2Δh2+...+πr2ΔhnV = \pi r^2 \Delta h_1 + \pi r^2 \Delta h_2 + ... + \pi r^2 \Delta h_n
    • As the number of disks approaches infinity and their thickness approaches zero, the sum becomes an integral: V=∫0hπr2dh=πr2hV = \int_{0}^{h} \pi r^2 dh = \pi r^2 h

Volume calculations for pyramids and cones

  • Volume of a pyramid calculated using the formula V=13BhV = \frac{1}{3} Bh
    • BB represents the area of the base
    • hh represents the height of the pyramid
  • Volume of a cone calculated using the formula V=13πr2hV = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h
    • rr represents the radius of the circular base
    • hh represents the height of the cone
  • To calculate the volume, follow these steps:
    1. Identify the shape (pyramid or cone) and its dimensions
    2. Substitute the values into the appropriate formula
    3. Perform the calculation to determine the volume

Real-world applications of volume formulas

  • Identify the type of solid (prism, cylinder, pyramid, or cone) in the real-world problem
  • Determine the necessary dimensions for the volume calculation
    • , height, and radius may be needed depending on the shape
    • Convert units if necessary to ensure consistency (cm to m, in to ft)
  • Use the appropriate volume formula to calculate the volume based on the identified shape and dimensions
  • Interpret the result in the context of the problem
    • Round the answer to a reasonable degree of accuracy based on the given information and context
  • Example problem: A cylindrical water tank has a diameter of 6 m and a height of 10 m. How many of water can it hold? (1 m³ = 1000 L)
    1. Identify the shape: cylinder
    2. Determine the dimensions: radius = 3 m (half of the diameter), height = 10 m
    3. Use the cylinder volume formula: V=πr2h=π(3)2(10)≈282.74V = \pi r^2 h = \pi (3)^2 (10) \approx 282.74 m³
    4. Convert to liters: 282.74282.74 m³ ×1000\times 1000 L/m³ ≈282,740\approx 282,740 L

Volume relationships between solid shapes

  • For a pyramid and a prism with the same base area and height, the volume of the pyramid is one-third the volume of the prism: Vpyramid=13VprismV_{pyramid} = \frac{1}{3} V_{prism}
    • Example: a and a cube with the same base edge length and height
  • For a cone and a cylinder with the same base area and height, the volume of the cone is one-third the volume of the cylinder: Vcone=13VcylinderV_{cone} = \frac{1}{3} V_{cylinder}
    • Example: a cone and a cylinder with the same base radius and height
  • This relationship can be proved using calculus by comparing the integrals of the cross-sectional areas of the shapes

Key Terms to Review (21)

Base area: Base area refers to the surface area of the base of a three-dimensional shape, which is crucial for calculating the volume of geometric solids. It serves as a foundational element when determining the overall volume, as the formula for volume typically involves multiplying the base area by the height of the solid. Understanding base area helps in visualizing how different shapes stack and fill space.
Capacity: Capacity refers to the maximum amount that a three-dimensional object can hold, typically measured in cubic units. This term is closely linked to volume, as it indicates how much space is available inside a solid shape, like prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones. Understanding capacity is essential for practical applications, such as determining how much liquid a container can hold or calculating storage needs.
Cross-section: A cross-section is a two-dimensional shape obtained by cutting through a three-dimensional figure. This concept is important as it helps visualize the internal structure and properties of three-dimensional objects, such as how volume and surface area can be calculated or understood. Cross-sections can reveal various shapes depending on the angle and location of the cut, which plays a key role in understanding the geometry of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.
Cross-sectional area: The cross-sectional area is the area of a two-dimensional shape that is obtained by cutting through a three-dimensional object, perpendicular to a specified axis. This area is crucial in understanding the volume of solids, as it helps in determining how much space a shape occupies when integrated along its height or length. It serves as a foundational concept for calculating volumes of various solids like prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.
Cubic units: Cubic units are a measurement of volume that expresses how much three-dimensional space an object occupies. They are calculated by taking a unit of length and cubing it, which means multiplying it by itself twice. In geometry, cubic units are essential for determining the volume of various solid shapes, allowing for comparisons and calculations involving prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.
Cylinder: A cylinder is a three-dimensional geometric figure with two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface at a fixed distance from the center of the bases. The properties of a cylinder include its height, radius, and volume, which are critical for understanding how this shape interacts with space. As a common solid in geometry, cylinders can be found in various real-world applications, making it essential to grasp their characteristics and calculations.
Dimensional Analysis: Dimensional analysis is a mathematical technique used to convert units from one measurement system to another and to check the consistency of equations involving physical quantities. It allows for the determination of relationships between different units, ensuring that calculations are valid and accurately represented in terms of dimensions such as length, area, volume, and more. This technique plays a crucial role in calculating the volumes of various geometric shapes, as it ensures the proper application of formulas and the correct interpretation of results.
Height: Height is a measurement that indicates the vertical distance from the base of a geometric figure to its topmost point. This concept is essential in understanding the dimensions and properties of various three-dimensional figures, as well as calculating areas, volumes, and surface areas. It serves as a critical measurement in defining the size and shape of figures such as prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.
Liters: Liters are a metric unit of volume that is commonly used to measure liquids. One liter is equivalent to one cubic decimeter, which means it can be visualized as the volume occupied by a cube measuring 10 centimeters on each side. This unit is particularly useful when calculating the volume of various three-dimensional shapes, such as prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones, allowing for practical applications in everyday life and scientific contexts.
Net of a prism: A net of a prism is a two-dimensional representation that shows all the faces of the prism laid out flat. It includes the base and lateral faces, allowing for the visualization of how these faces connect to form the three-dimensional shape. Understanding nets helps in calculating surface area and can aid in visualizing the structure of prisms when working with their volume.
Oblique Cone: An oblique cone is a type of cone where the apex (tip) is not directly above the center of its base, causing it to slant to one side. This contrasts with a right cone, where the apex is aligned vertically above the center of the base. The unique shape of an oblique cone impacts its volume and surface area calculations, making it essential to understand when studying the properties of cones.
Rectangular prism: A rectangular prism is a three-dimensional geometric shape that has six rectangular faces, with opposite faces being congruent. It is characterized by its length, width, and height, which are all perpendicular to one another. The properties of a rectangular prism make it essential for calculating both volume and surface area, as it serves as a fundamental example of prisms in geometry.
Right circular cone: A right circular cone is a three-dimensional geometric figure with a circular base and a single vertex that is perpendicular to the base. This shape is formed by connecting all points on the boundary of the base circle to the vertex, creating a smooth, tapering surface. The right circular cone plays an important role in understanding both volume and surface area calculations, as it allows for the application of specific mathematical formulas that govern these properties.
Scaling Volume: Scaling volume refers to the process of changing the size of a three-dimensional shape while maintaining its proportions. When a solid figure is scaled, its volume changes by the cube of the scaling factor, which affects how we calculate and understand the capacity of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones. This concept helps in understanding how shapes grow or shrink in space, providing insight into real-world applications like architecture, manufacturing, and even nature.
Square pyramid: A square pyramid is a three-dimensional geometric shape with a square base and four triangular faces that converge at a single point known as the apex. This shape is notable for its unique properties that relate to both its volume and surface area, allowing for calculations that involve its dimensions in various mathematical contexts.
Storage space: Storage space refers to the amount of volume available within three-dimensional shapes to hold or contain objects. This concept is crucial in understanding how different geometric figures, like prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones, occupy space and how their dimensions affect their capacity to store materials or liquids. The measurement of storage space allows us to compare and contrast the volume of various shapes, which is essential in real-life applications such as packing, construction, and design.
Triangular prism: A triangular prism is a three-dimensional geometric shape that has two parallel triangular bases and three rectangular lateral faces connecting the corresponding sides of the triangles. This solid shape can vary in size and proportions, making it an important figure in geometry when studying properties such as volume and surface area. The relationships between its bases, height, and lateral surfaces help to establish the formulas used for calculating these properties.
Triangular pyramid: A triangular pyramid, also known as a tetrahedron, is a three-dimensional geometric shape with a triangular base and three triangular faces that converge at a single vertex. This solid has a total of four faces, six edges, and four vertices. The unique structure of the triangular pyramid allows it to be analyzed in terms of both surface area and volume calculations, linking it closely to principles governing other polyhedra.
V = (1/3)bh: The formula $$v = \frac{1}{3}bh$$ represents the volume of a pyramid or a cone, where 'v' is the volume, 'b' is the area of the base, and 'h' is the height. This relationship shows how the volume of these shapes is calculated by taking one-third of the product of the base area and the height. Understanding this formula is crucial as it helps in comparing volumes between different geometric shapes, especially prisms and pyramids, highlighting the differences in their structures.
V = bh: The formula v = bh represents the relationship between the volume of a three-dimensional shape and its base area and height. In this equation, 'v' stands for volume, 'b' is the area of the base, and 'h' is the height of the shape. This formula is essential for calculating the volume of various geometric solids, providing a straightforward method to quantify how much space an object occupies based on its dimensions.
V = πr²h: The formula v = πr²h represents the volume of a cylinder, where 'v' stands for volume, 'r' is the radius of the base, and 'h' is the height. This formula highlights how the volume of a cylinder depends on both the area of its circular base, calculated using πr², and its height. Understanding this equation is essential for determining the capacity of cylindrical objects in various real-world applications.
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