Surface Area and Volume of Pyramids, Cones, and Spheres

Right Pyramids
A pyramid where the top of the pyramid (apex) lies directly above the centroid of the base.

Surface Area of Right Pyramids 1

𝑆𝐴 = 𝐴 + ⎯⎯𝑃𝑆
For right pyramids, the surface area can be found by adding the area of the base to 2
the area of the triangles that join each edge of the base to the apex.

Since the area for each of the triangles is ⎯ × a particular edge of the base × height
of the triangle which then get added up, the total area
1
will be ⎯⎯× the perimeter of the base × height of the triangles.
2

Volume of Right Pyramids

For right pyramids, we consider a rectangular prism and connect the centre to each 1
𝑉 = ⎯⎯𝐴𝐻
of the vertices. This creates six equal pyramids with a height half that of the prism. 3
That is, for the rectangular prism with sides 𝐿, 𝑊, and 2𝐻, the six pyramids will have
the same total volume
1 1
2𝐿𝑊𝐻. That is, ⎯⎯× 2𝐿𝑊𝐻 = ⎯⎯𝐿𝑊𝐻 or one-third of the volume of
6 3
the prism.

For right pyramids with any base shape, if the ratio of the area of the cross-sections
of two solids taken at the same distance above the base have areas in a particular
ratio, then the solids have their volumes in the same ratio. Since any shape's area
can be compared to a rectangle's area, as long as the cross section constantly
reduces getting closer to the apex the volume will be one third of the prism's.

Example VCAA 2007 Question 3

Tessa’s next task is to carve the right rectangular pyramid 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷𝑌
shown in Figure 4 below. She marks a new point, 𝑌, halfway between
points 𝑊 and 𝑉 in Figure 3. She uses point 𝑌 to construct this
pyramid.

1   ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝑆𝐴 = 24 × 28 + ⎯⎯× 2(24 + 28) × 32 + 12 = 2449.15 cm
2

1 Figure 4
𝑉 = ⎯⎯× (24 × 28) × 32 = 7168 cm
3

Surface Area and Volumes of Right Cones

Surface Area and Volumes of Right Cones
A right cone is just a right pyramid with a circular base.
Therefore its surface area and volume can be determined in the same manner.

1 1
𝑆𝐴 = 𝐴 + ⎯⎯𝑃𝑆 𝑉 = ⎯⎯𝐴𝐻
2 3
1 1
𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 + ⎯⎯× 2𝜋𝑟 × 𝑠 𝑉 = ⎯⎯× 𝜋𝑟 × ℎ
2 3

𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 + 𝜋𝑟𝑠 1
𝑉 = ⎯⎯𝜋𝑟 ℎ
3

Example VCAA 2003 Question 3a

Jane has soil delivered for her garden. There are two piles of soil, both
in the shape of a right cone. The first pile of soil has a base diameter of
1.2 metres and a height of 0.7 metres as shown in the diagram below.

  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋 × 0.6 + 1.2𝜋 × 0.7 + 0.6 = 4.61 m

1
𝑉 = ⎯⎯× 𝜋 × 0.6 × 0.7 = 0.26 m
3

Surface Area of Spheres

For spheres, the surface area is equal to the curved rectangular 𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟 × 2𝑟
surface of the cylinder with a radius equal to the radius of the
sphere and a height equal to the diameter of the sphere. 𝑆𝐴 = 4𝜋𝑟

This is equal to 4 × the area of the largest circle that fits in the sphere.
That is, the circle with the same radius (or diameter) as the sphere.

From this we can connect the area of four circles to the area of this
rectangle by unfurling the circles to triangles and stacking them.

Volume of Spheres 2
𝑉 = ⎯⎯𝐴𝐻
For spheres, the volume is two-thirds of the volume of the 3
cylinder with a radius equal to the radius of the sphere and a
height equal to the diameter of the sphere. 2
𝑉 = ⎯⎯× 𝜋𝑟 × 2𝑟
3
The volumes of cones, hemispheres, cylinders, and spheres are in
1 2 3 4 4
the ratio ⎯⎯: ⎯⎯: ⎯⎯: ⎯⎯where the height is equal to the radius. 𝑉 = ⎯⎯𝜋𝑟
3 3 3 3 3

Example VCAA 2016 Question 1a

A golf ball is spherical in shape and has a radius of 21.4 mm, as shown in
the diagram below. Assume that the surface of the golf ball is smooth.

𝑆𝐴 = 4 × 𝜋 × 21.4 = 5754.89 mm
4
𝑉 = ⎯⎯× 𝜋 × 21.4 = 41 051.58 mm
3