Composite Solids

Composite Solids
Three dimensional shapes that are made from different three dimensional shapes fused together or taken
out from each other. Partitioning composite solids into shapes is a strategy for finding the total surface
area. Be careful, when sides cover each other, they are not included in the surface area.

Students are encouraged to clearly label each step, such as ‘Wall:’ or ‘Front:’ in an extended calculation
and to draw supporting diagrams where applicable. To ensure that they include all of the surfaces involved,
students might find it helpful to begin the solution to questions such as this by writing down a statement
like: Total surface area = surface area of the hemispherical bowl + surface area of the side of the cylinder +
surface area of the base of the cylinder.

Use addition and subtraction of the partial shapes' areas or volumes to find the surface area or volume.

Example VCAA 2007 Question 6

A solid cylinder has a height of 30 cm and a diameter of 40 cm.
A hemisphere is cut out of the top of the cylinder as shown below.
𝑆𝐴Cylinder = 2𝜋 × 20 × 30 + 𝜋 × 20 = 5026.55
1
𝑆𝐴Hemisphere = ⎯⎯× 4 × 𝜋 × 20 = 2513.27
2
The total surface area of the remaining solid (including its base) is 5026.55 + 2513.27 = 7 540 cm .

Example VCAA 2009 Question 4

The ferry has two fuel filters, 𝐴 and 𝐵. Filter 𝐴 has a hemispherical base
with radius 12 cm. A cylinder of height 30 cm sits on top of this base.
𝑉Cylinder = 𝜋 × 12 × 30 = 13 571.68
1 4
𝑉Hemisphere = ⎯⎯× ⎯⎯× 𝜋 × 12 = 3 619.11
2 3
The volume of filter 𝐴 is 13 571.68 + 3 619.11 = 17 191 cm .

Example VCAA 2017 NHT Question 4

Paula has built a model house using a triangular prism on top of a
rectangular box. The dimensions of the model house are shown on the
diagram below. Paula will paint the outside walls and the roof of the
model house.
52 + 52 + 80   ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯   ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝑠 = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= 92, triangle area = 92(92 − 52)(92 − 52)(92 − 80) = √1 766 400
2
  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
front = rectangle + triangle = (80 × 75) + √1 766 400 = 6000 + 1329.0598 = 7329.0598 m
perimeter to paint = 75 + 52 + 52 + 75 = 254 m

The area that will be painted:

(front × 2) + (perimeter to paint × prism height) = (7329.0598 × 2) + (254 × 96) = 39 042.12 m .

Example VCAA 2008 Question 6

A tent with semicircular ends is in the shape of a prism.
The diameter of the ends is 1.5 m. The tent is 2.5 m long.
1
semicircle area = ⎯⎯× 𝜋 × (1.5/2) = 0.88357 m
2
1
semicircle perimeter = ⎯⎯× 𝜋 × 1.5 + 1.5 = 3.85619 m
2
The total surface area (in m ) of the tent, including the base, is
(2 × semicircle area) + (semicircle perimeter × height) = (0.88357 × 2) + (3.85619 × 2.5) = 11.4 m .