Subject Code Mathematics 4
Module Code 10.0 (Volume and Surface Areas of Solids)
Lesson Code 10.2.3 (Volume and Surface Area of Spheres)
Time Limit 30 minutes
By the end of this lesson, the student will have been able to:
1. apply the properties of volume and surface area to determine the volume and surface area of
spheres;
2. use nets (flattened out pictures of solids) to find the surface area of different solids; and
3. solve problems involving volumes and surface areas.
In the previous Learning Guides, we have seen geometric figures which contains polygonal faces (the
likes of prisms and pyramids), and also those which contain a curved surface and planar face(s) (the
likes of cylinders and cones). Note that polygonal and circular faces are all planar faces. In this lesson,
we shall look at a geometric figure that possesses one continuous curved surface - a sphere.
Spheres (Time Allotment: 4 minutes)
Definition of a Sphere
A sphere is a set of points in space which are of the same distance, called the radius, from a
given point, called the center.
When a plane intersects a sphere in more than one point, their intersection is a circle, as shown in the
figure below (b).
(a) (b) (c)
When the plane intersecting a sphere contains the center of the sphere, the circle of intersection has the
largest size. In this case, the circle is called the great circle of a sphere, and its radius is exactly the
radius of the sphere (figure (c) above). In a sphere of radius r, the area of a great circle is πr2 .
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A sphere can be divided into four equal quadrants (shown below). The surface area of each quadrant is
equal to the area of a great circle.
Surface Area and Volume of a Sphere
Area of a Sphere
The surface area A of a sphere of radius r is four times the area of a great circle, or A = 4πr2 .
(Kalin & Corbitt, 1993)
Volume of a Sphere
The volume V of a sphere of radius r is V = 34 πr3 . (Kalin & Corbitt, 1993)
Sample Problems: Circles (Time Allotment: 4 minutes)
1. Find the surface area and volume of a sphere of radius 5 in.
Solution.
The surface area A and volume V of such sphere are as follows.
A = 4πr2 = 4π(52 ) = 100π in2 ;
4 4 500π 3
V = πr3 = π 53 = in .
3 3 3
2. Suppose that the surface area of a sphere, in square inches, and its volume, in cubic inches, are equal
in value. What are its surface area and volume?
Solution.
In order to solve for the surface area and volume of the sphere, we first need to know its radius r. As
given, A = V . Thus,
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4 3
4πr2 = πr
3
1 3
r2 = r
3
1
r2 − r3 = 0
3
1
r2 1 − r = 0
3
This implies that r2 = 0 or 1 − 31 r = 0, that is, either r = 0 or 3. Since a sphere has a positive radius,
then r should be equal to 3 inches. Hence,
A = 4πr2 = 4π(32 ) = 36π in2 ; and
4 4
V = πr3 = π33 = 36π in3 .
3 3
Nets (Time Allotment: 4 minutes)
In the previous lessons, we have learned the formula for finding the total surface area of prisms and
pyramids. There is another way to get the total surface area of any polyhedron and this is through the
use of nets.
Definition of Nets
A net is a two-dimensional diagram which shows how a polyhedron would look like when its
edge-joined faces are arranged in a plane.
A polyhedron is a three-dimensional geometric object while a net is a two-dimensional representation
of the faces of the polyhedron. Below are the step-by-step illustration of how a net of a cube is obtained.
(1) (2) (3)
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(4) (5)
(6) (7)
(8) (9)
There could be more than one net of a polyhedron. Below are other nets of a cube except one. Which
below do you think is not a net of a cube?
(a) (b) (c)
(d) (e)
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Now let us look at an example where the polyhedron’s net is used to solve for its total surface area.
Sample Problem: Using Nets to Find Surface Area (Time Allotment: 3 minutes)
Find the total surface area of the prism given below.
Solution.
Below is a net of the prism with the corresponding lengths of its sides.
In the following figures, we assign A1 to be the area of the largest rectangle, and A2 and A3 the areas of
the remaining congruent regions.
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With this,
T = A1 + A2 + A3
= A1 + 2 (A2 )
= [(10 + 20 + 5 + 15 + 5 + 5)(8)] + 2 [(10 · 5)(15 · 5)]
= 730 in2 .
Summary List of Variables and Formulas (Time Allotment: 1 minute)
Variable Definition
A area
V volume
r radius
Quantity Formula
Area of a sphere A = 4πr2
Volume of a sphere V = 34 πr3
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Practice Exercises (Time Allotment: 12 minutes)
Even-numbered items are graded. Odd-numbered items have answers at the end of the lesson. All the
figures are not drawn to scale.
1. If the radius of a sphere is increased by half of its original radius, by how many percent is the
volume increased?
2. A cube of side length of 4 in is inscribed in a sphere as shown below. Find the surface area and
volume of the sphere. Hint: When a cube is inscribed in a sphere, the longest diagonal of the cube
is a diameter of the sphere.
3. Solve for the radius of a sphere whose volume is three times its surface area.
4. A polyhedron has six rectangular faces and four isosceles triangular faces, as shown below. Use a
net of the polyhedron to find its total surface area.
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5. The polyhedron shown below has four rectangular faces and two congruent right trapezoidal faces.
Use one of its nets to find the total surface area of the polyhedron.
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Lesson Summary (Time Allotment: 1 minute)
1. A sphere is a set of points in space which are of the same distance (radius) from a given point
(center).
2. The great circle of a sphere is a circle on the sphere whose radius is the radius of the sphere.
3. The surface area of a sphere is four times the area of its great circle.
4. A sphere can be equally divided into four quadrants and the surface area of each quadrant is equal
to the area of a great circle of the sphere.
5. The volume and surface area of a sphere are
4 3
V = πr
3
SA = 4πr2
6. The total surface area of a polyhedron may also be obtained using its net. A net is a two-dimensional
diagram which shows how a polyhedron would look like when its edge-joined faces are arranged
in a plane.
References
Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. Based on Ramos, E.G. and Apolinario, N. (n.d.). Science
LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.
Hohenwarter, M., Borcherds, M., Ancsin, G., Bencze, B., Blossier, M., Éliás, J., . . . Tomaschko, M.
(2018, October). GeoGebra [Link]. ([Link]
Kalin, R., & Corbitt, M. K. (1993). Geometry. Prentice Hall, Inc.
Moise, E. E., & Downs, F. L., Jr. (1991). Geometry. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Prepared by: Mr. Harold C. Soriano Reviewed by: Jose Ariel A. Serrato
Position: Special Science Teacher IV Position: Special Science Teacher III
Campus: PSHS-SMC Campus: PSHS-WVC
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary
information and may only be released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled
unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update notification.
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Enrichment Exercises
1. The composite solid below is in the form of a right circular cylinder with hemispheres at each end.
Find the surface area and volume of the solid. (Kalin & Corbitt, 1993)
2. A sphere of radius 8 in. is inscribed in a right circular cylinder as shown below. Find the lateral
area of the cylinder.
3. The figure below has four equilateral trapezoidal faces and two rectangular faces. Use a net of the
figure to find its total surface area.
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Answer Key
Practice Exercises
1. 237.5%
3. r = 9 units
√
5. T = 4 35 + 3 5 in2
Enrichment Exercises
832
1. A = 160π in2 ; V = π in3
3
2. L = 256π in2
√
3. A = 32 2 + 1 ft2
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