Surface Area and Volume of Right Prisms

Right Prism
A 3D shape with a uniform cross section and the ends are parallel and aligned directly above each other.
The cross section can be any shape (including composite or non-standard shapes).

Surface Area of Right Prisms Volume of Right Prisms

For right prisms, the surface area can be found For right prisms, the volume can
by adding two lots of the area of the cross be found by multiplying the cross
section to the area of the rectangles that join sectional area by the height the
each edge of the cross sections together. cross section extends.

𝑆𝐴 = 2𝐴 + 𝑃𝐻 𝑉 = 𝐴𝐻

If the prism is open at one or both ends, Remember: capacity is related to

remember not to add the area of the cross volume where 1 mL = 1 cm ,
section for that one end or both ends. 1 kL = 1 m .

Example VCAA 2013 Question 7

A greenhouse is built in the shape of a trapezoidal prism,
as shown in the diagram above. The cross-section of the
greenhouse (shaded) is an isosceles trapezium. The
parallel sides of this trapezium are 4 m and 10 m
respectively. The two equal sides are each 5 m. The
length of the greenhouse is 12 m. The five exterior
surfaces of the greenhouse, not including the base, are
made of glass.

  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
trapezium height = 5 − 3 = 4 m
1
trapezium area = ⎯⎯× (10 + 4) × 4 = 28 m , trapezium perimeter (no base) = 5 + 4 + 5 = 14 m
2

The total area of the glass surfaces of the greenhouse is

(2 × trapezium area) + (trapezium perimeter × prism height) = (2 × 28) + (14 × 12) = 224 m

The total volume of the greenhouse is trapezium area × prism height = 28 × 12 = 336 m

Surface Area of a Cylinder Volume of a Cylinder

A cylinder is a right prism with a Since a cylinder is a right prism, its volume is
circular base. the area of its cross section (a circle) × the
height of the prism.
𝑆𝐴 = 2𝐴 + 𝑃𝐻
𝑆𝐴 = 2 × 𝜋𝑟 + 𝐶 × ℎ 𝑉 = 𝐴𝐻
𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟 + 2𝜋𝑟ℎ 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 × ℎ
𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟(𝑟 + ℎ) 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 ℎ

Example VCAA 2018 NHT Question 1b

Shannon is a baker. Another baking tin has a circular base with a radius of
12 cm. The height of this baking tin is 8 cm, as shown in the diagram
below. Shannon needs to cover the inside of both the base and side of
this tin with baking paper.
The area of baking paper required is 𝜋 × 12 + (2𝜋 × 12 × 8) = 1055.6 cm .
The volume of this tin is 𝜋 × 12 × 8 = 3619.1 cm .