Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
The surface area of a sphere refers to the total area covered by the curved surface of a sphere. It is calculated using the formula 4ฯr^2, where r is the radius of the sphere.
Related terms
Volume of a Sphere: The volume of a sphere represents the amount of space enclosed within its boundaries. It is calculated using the formula (4/3)ฯr^3, where r is the radius.
Radius: The radius is the distance from the center of a sphere to any point on its curved surface. It determines both its size and various properties such as surface area and volume.
Curved Surface: A curved surface refers to any non-flat part or boundary that has curvature in three-dimensional space. In terms of spheres, it specifically describes their outermost layer without considering their interior volume.