Unit 4 Notes – Solid Figures
A prism is a solid figure having at least one pair of
parallel surfaces that create a uniform cross
section. The figure below shows a hexagonal prism.
Cutting the prism anywhere parallel to the
hexagonal surfaces produces the same hexagonal
cross section.
All the polygons that form the prism are called
faces. The faces that create the uniform cross
section are called the bases. They give the prism
its name. The others are called lateral faces. The
sides of the polygons are the edges of the prism,
and the corners are still referred to as vertices.
The perpendicular distance between the bases
is called the altitude of the prism.
In a right prism the lateral edges are
perpendicular to the bases, and the lateral faces
are rectangles. In this section you will learn about
right prisms only.
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The most common solid in practical work is the
rectangular prism. All opposite faces are parallel,
so any pair can be chosen as bases. Every face is a
rectangle. The angles at all vertices are right angles.
A cube is a rectangular prism in which all edges are
the same length
In a triangular prism the bases are identical
triangles.
In a trapezoidal prism the bases are identical trapezoids.
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We know that the trapezoids and not the other faces are the bases because cutting the prism anywhere
parallel to the trapezoid faces produces another trapezoidal prism.
Three important quantities can be calculated for any prism: the lateral surface area, the total surface area, and
the volume. The following formulas apply to all right prisms:
The lateral surface area L is the area of all surfaces excluding the two bases.
The total surface area T is the lateral surface area plus the area of the two bases.
The volume or capacity of a prism is the total amount of space inside it. Volume is measured in cubic units.
As with units of area, units of volume can be written using exponents. For example, cubic inches (cu in.) result
from multiplying inches by inches by inches, which in exponent form is in. 3. Similarly, cubic yards (cu yd) can
be expressed as yd3, cubic meters (cu m) as m3, and so on. Workers in the trades use both types of notation,
and we shall use both in the remainder of this text.
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Let’s look at an example. Find the (a) lateral surface area, (b) total surface area, and (c) volume of the
triangular cross-section duct shown.
Because all edges of a cube are the same length, we can simplify the formulas for L, T, and V for cubes as
follows:
Example: For the cube shown, given that one of the sides is 5 feet long, determine the surface area and
volume.
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In practical problems it is often necessary to convert volume units from cubic inches or cubic feet to gallons or
other units, including metric units. Use the following conversion factors and set up unity fractions as shown
previously.
Suppose that we excavate a rectangular plot of land, where it has to be 90 feet deep, and measuring 180 feet
by 240 feet. How many cubic yards of dirt will need to be moved to do this?
If Steel weighs approximately 0.283 𝑙𝑏/𝑖𝑛3 , how much will the steel bar shown below weigh?
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Find the surface areas and volumes of the prisms below:
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A pyramid is a solid object with one base and three or more lateral faces that taper to a single point opposite
the base. This single point is called the apex. A right pyramid is one whose base is a regular polygon and
whose apex is centered over the base. We will examine only right pyramids here.
The altitude of a pyramid is the perpendicular distance from the apex to the base. The slant height of the
pyramid is the height of one of the lateral faces.
As with prisms, pyramids are identified according to the shape of the base:
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Find the volumes, lateral areas, and total surface areas of the pyramids below:
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One section of the roof of a building is in the shape of a square pyramid with a side length of 28 ft and a slant
height of 13.25 ft. A heat-reflecting paint with a spreading rate of 150 square feet per gallon is to be applied to
this section. Suppose we wish to know the number of gallons needed in order to apply two coats of this paint.
A frustum of a pyramid is the solid figure remaining after the top of the pyramid is cut off parallel to the base.
Frustum shapes appear as containers, as building foundations, and as transition sections in ducts.
Most frustums used in practical work, such as sheet metal construction, are frustums of square pyramids or
cones.
Every frustum has two bases, upper and lower, that are parallel and different in size. The altitude is the
perpendicular distance between the bases.
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For the frustums below, determine the volume and surface areas:
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A cylinder is a solid object with two identical circular bases. The altitude of a cylinder is the perpendicular
distance between the bases. A right cylinder is one whose curved side walls are perpendicular to its circular base.
Whenever we mention the radius, diameter, or circumference of a cylinder, we are referring to those dimensions of its
circular base.
You can visualize the lateral surface area by imagining the cylinder wall unrolled into a rectangle as shown
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Find the lateral area, total surface area and volumes of the cylinders:
Example: A water district discovers a break in a 15-in. diameter pipe that has contaminated the water over a
1.2-mile length. To treat the water flowing through the pipe, the water district needs to know the number of
gallons of water flowing through this stretch of pipe. How many gallons is this? (Round to the nearest gallon.
One cubic foot of water contains approximately 7.48 gallons.)
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The sphere is the simplest of all solid geometric figures. Geometrically, it is defined as the surface whose
points are all equidistant from a given point called the center. The radius is the distance from the center to the
surface. The diameter is the straight-line distance across the sphere on a line through its center.
Example: A spherical water tank is 60 inches in diameter. How many gallons of water will it hold? Assume
that 1 gallon is 231 cubic inches.
Find the volumes and surface areas of the spheres:
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A cone is a pyramid-like solid figure with a circular base. The radius and diameter of a cone refer to its circular
base. The altitude is the perpendicular distance from the apex to the base. The slant height is the apex-to-
base distance along the surface of the cone.
Find the lateral areas, surface areas, and volumes of the cones:
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You should realize that the altitude, radius, and slant height for any cone are always related by the
Pythagorean theorem:
If you are given any two of these quantities, you can use this formula to find the third. Notice that the volume
of a cone is exactly one-third the volume of the cylinder that just encloses it.
Example: A conical pile of sand has a base diameter of 18 ft 3 in. and an altitude of 8 ft 6 in. A pickup truck
with a bed capacity of 3.1 cu yd is being used to haul away the sand. Suppose we wish to know the number of
truckloads it will take to transport the sand.
The frustum of a cone, like the frustum of a pyramid, is the figure remaining when the top of the cone is cut
off parallel to its base. Frustum shapes appear as containers, as funnels, and as transition sections in ducts.
Every frustum has two bases, upper and lower, that are parallel and different in size. The altitude is the
perpendicular distance between the bases.
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Find the total surface area, lateral surface area, and volume of the frustum.
The figure in the margin shows the dimensions of a round countersunk head rivet. The rivet is made of solid
copper, which weighs 0.324 lb/in.3. Suppose we need to find the total weight of the rivet in ounces
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