Complete theory, formulas for surface areas and volumes of cubes, cuboids, spheres, hemispheres, cones, cylinders, frustums, and combinations of solids. Prepared strictly according to CBSE board exam pattern 2025-26.
In this chapter, we will learn how to calculate the surface areas (total surface area and curved/lateral surface area) and volumes of various 3D shapes — cubes, cuboids, cylinders, cones, spheres, hemispheres, and frustums. We will also learn how to find surface areas and volumes of combinations of solids (like a cone mounted on a cylinder, a hemisphere on a cube, etc.).
Length = l, Breadth = b, Height = h
Lateral Surface Area = 2h(l + b)
Total Surface Area = 2(lb + bh + hl)
Volume = l × b × h
Diagonal = √(l² + b² + h²)
Side = a
Lateral Surface Area = 4a²
Total Surface Area = 6a²
Volume = a³
Diagonal = a√3
Find the total surface area and volume of a cube of side 7 cm.
Solution: TSA = 6 × 7² = 6 × 49 = 294 cm². Volume = 7³ = 343 cm³.
Radius = r, Height = h
Curved Surface Area = 2πrh
Total Surface Area = 2πr(r + h)
Volume = πr²h
External radius = R, Internal radius = r, Height = h
CSA = 2πh(R + r)
TSA = 2π(R + r)(R - r + h)
Volume = πh(R² - r²)
Find the curved surface area and volume of a cylinder of radius 7 cm and height 10 cm.
Solution: CSA = 2 × 22/7 × 7 × 10 = 2 × 22 × 10 = 440 cm².
Volume = 22/7 × 7² × 10 = 22 × 7 × 10 = 1540 cm³.
Radius = r, Height = h, Slant Height = l
l = √(r² + h²)
Curved Surface Area = πrl
Total Surface Area = πr(r + l)
Volume = (1/3)πr²h
Find the curved surface area of a cone with radius 7 cm and height 24 cm.
Solution: l = √(7² + 24²) = √(49 + 576) = √625 = 25 cm.
CSA = π × 7 × 25 = 22/7 × 7 × 25 = 22 × 25 = 550 cm².
Radius = r
Surface Area = 4πr²
Volume = (4/3)πr³
Radius = r
Curved Surface Area = 2πr²
Total Surface Area = 3πr²
Volume = (2/3)πr³
Find the surface area and volume of a sphere of radius 21 cm.
Solution: SA = 4 × 22/7 × 21² = 4 × 22/7 × 441 = 4 × 22 × 63 = 5544 cm².
Volume = (4/3) × 22/7 × 21³ = (4/3) × 22/7 × 9261 = (4/3) × 22 × 1323 = 4 × 22 × 441 = 38808 cm³.
A frustum is the portion of a cone that remains after cutting off the top portion by a plane parallel to the base.
Radius of top = r₁, Radius of base = r₂, Height = h, Slant height = l
l = √[h² + (r₂ - r₁)²]
Curved Surface Area = πl(r₁ + r₂)
Total Surface Area = π[r₁² + r₂² + l(r₁ + r₂)]
Volume = (1/3)πh(r₁² + r₂² + r₁r₂)
A bucket is in the shape of a frustum with top radius 14 cm, bottom radius 7 cm, and height 24 cm. Find its volume.
Solution: Volume = (1/3) × 22/7 × 24 × (14² + 7² + 14×7) = (1/3) × 22/7 × 24 × (196 + 49 + 98) = (1/3) × 22/7 × 24 × 343 = 22/7 × 8 × 343 = 22 × 8 × 49 = 8624 cm³.
Many real-life objects are combinations of two or more solids — a cone on a cylinder (tent), a hemisphere on a cube (trophy), a cylinder with hemispherical ends (capsule), etc.
A solid is in the shape of a cone mounted on a cylinder. The height of cylinder is 10 cm, radius of cylinder = 7 cm, and height of cone = 6 cm. Find total volume and TSA.
Solution: Volume = πr²h(cylinder) + (1/3)πr²h(cone) = (22/7)×49×10 + (1/3)×(22/7)×49×6 = 1540 + 308 = 1848 cm³.
TSA = CSA of cylinder + CSA of cone + base area of cylinder = 2πrh + πrl + πr². (l = √(7²+6²)=√85≈9.22cm).
Question: A solid iron sphere of radius 6 cm is melted and recast into a cylinder of radius 4 cm. Find the height of the cylinder.
Solution: Volume of sphere = (4/3)πr³ = (4/3)π × 216 = 288π cm³.
Volume of cylinder = πr²h = π × 16 × h = 16πh.
Equating: 288π = 16πh → h = 288/16 = 18 cm.
Question: A wooden article is made by scooping out a hemisphere from one end of a cylinder. The cylinder has height 10 cm and radius 3.5 cm. Find the total surface area.
Solution: TSA = CSA of cylinder + CSA of hemisphere + base area of cylinder = 2πrh + 2πr² + πr² = 2πrh + 3πr².
= 2 × 22/7 × 3.5 × 10 + 3 × 22/7 × 12.25 = 220 + 115.5 = 335.5 cm².
Question: The slant height of a frustum of a cone is 10 cm. The radii of its circular ends are 8 cm and 4 cm. Find its curved surface area.
Solution: CSA = πl(r₁ + r₂) = 22/7 × 10 × (8 + 4) = 22/7 × 10 × 12 = 22/7 × 120 = 2640/7 = 377.14 cm².
| Shape | Curved/Lateral Surface Area | Total Surface Area | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuboid | 2h(l+b) | 2(lb+bh+hl) | l×b×h |
| Cube | 4a² | 6a² | a³ |
| Cylinder | 2πrh | 2πr(r+h) | πr²h |
| Cone | πrl | πr(r+l) | (1/3)πr²h |
| Sphere | — | 4πr² | (4/3)πr³ |
| Hemisphere | 2πr² | 3πr² | (2/3)πr³ |
| Frustum | πl(r₁+r₂) | π[r₁²+r₂²+l(r₁+r₂)] | (1/3)πh(r₁²+r₂²+r₁r₂) |