Grade 9 → Surface Areas and Volumes ↓
Surface Area and Volume of a Sphere and Hemisphere
In mathematics, the concepts of surface area and volume play an important role in understanding the geometry of various shapes. Here, we explore these ideas specifically in relation to spheres and hemispheres. This topic is important because it provides information about the properties and measurements of these shapes, which have real-world applications in various fields such as physics, engineering, and architecture.
Understanding the region
The sphere is a perfectly symmetric three-dimensional geometric object where every point on its surface is the same distance from its center. Because of its uniformity, the sphere represents an example of simplicity and symmetry in geometry.
Visual representation
Surface area of a sphere
The surface area of a sphere is the total area enclosed by the surface of the sphere. It can be calculated using the formula:
Surface Area of a Sphere = 4πr²
Here, r
represents the radius of the sphere, which is the distance from the center of the sphere to any point on its surface. π
(pi) is a constant that is approximately equal to 3.14159.
Example
If you have a sphere with a radius of 5 cm, the surface area of the sphere can be calculated as follows:
Surface Area = 4 × π × (5)² = 4 × π × 25 = 100π cm² ≈ 314.16 cm²
Volume of a sphere
The volume of a sphere is the amount of space it occupies, which can be determined using the following formula:
Volume of a Sphere = (4/3)πr³
Again, r
is the radius, and π
is the mathematical constant pi.
Example
To find the volume of a sphere of radius 5 cm, use the formula as shown below:
Volume = (4/3) × π × (5)³ = (4/3) × π × 125 = (500/3)π cm³ ≈ 523.33 cm³
Understanding hemispheres
A hemisphere is half of a sphere. You can think of it as cutting a sphere into two equal halves along its diameter.
Visual representation
Surface area of a hemisphere
The surface area of a hemisphere has two parts: the curved surface area and the base area. The formula for the curved surface area of a hemisphere is half the surface area of a whole sphere:
Curved Surface Area of a Hemisphere = 2πr²
Add the area of the circular base, which is given by:
Base Area = πr²
Thus, the total surface area of a hemisphere is:
Total Surface Area of a Hemisphere = 2πr² + πr² = 3πr²
Example
Consider a hemisphere of radius 5 cm. The total surface area of the hemisphere is calculated as:
Total Surface Area = 3 × π × (5)² = 3 × π × 25 = 75π cm² ≈ 235.62 cm²
Volume of a hemisphere
The volume of a hemisphere is half the volume of a perfect sphere. Therefore, the formula for the volume of a hemisphere is:
Volume of a Hemisphere = (2/3)πr³
Example
Let's find the volume of a hemisphere with radius 5 cm:
Volume = (2/3) × π × (5)³ = (250/3)π cm³ ≈ 261.67 cm³
Real-world applications
Understanding the surface area and volume of spheres and hemispheres is important in many real-world applications. For example, these calculations are important in determining the amount of material needed to build spherical objects such as balls, spherical tanks, or domes. Architects use these calculations to design structures with curved surfaces.
Engineers often rely on knowledge of spherical volume to calculate the capacity of containers. The principles discussed here are also essential in subjects such as astronomy and geography, where the curvature of the Earth and various celestial bodies is estimated using spherical models.
Practice problems
- Find the surface area of a sphere of radius 10 cm.
- Find the volume of a sphere of diameter 24 cm.
- The radius of a hemisphere is 7 cm. Find its total surface area.
- What is the volume of a hemisphere of radius 12 cm?
- If the spherical tank can hold a volume of 2000 litres, find its radius.
Solution
Surface Area = 4π(10)² = 400π cm² ≈ 1256.64 cm²
Radius = Diameter / 2 = 24 / 2 = 12 cm
Volume = (4/3)π(12)³ = (6912/3)π cm³ = 2304π cm³ ≈ 7238.23 cm³
Total Surface Area = 3π(7)² = 147π cm² ≈ 461.81 cm²
Volume = (2/3)π(12)³ = 1152π cm³ ≈ 3619.11 cm³
Volume = (4/3)πr³ = 2000 litres × 1000 cm³/litre = 2000000 cm³
r³ = (3/4) × (2000000/π) ≈ 477464.83
r ≈ 78.02 cm