15. Volume & Surface Area Formulas
Volume measures the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object.
Surface Area measures the total area of the outer surfaces of a three-dimensional object.
The provided formula sheet covers the following solids:
- Cube
- Cuboid
- Cylinder
- Cone
- Frustum
- Sphere
- Hollow Sphere
- Hemisphere
- Prism
- Pyramid
1. Important Units
| Measurement | Common Unit |
|---|---|
| Length | cm, m, km |
| Area | cm², m² |
| Volume | cm³, m³ |
Remember: Surface area is always measured in square units, while volume is measured in cubic units.
2. Cube
A cube has six equal square faces. Every edge has the same length, represented by a.
Volume
Lateral Surface Area (LSA)
Total Surface Area (TSA)
Example
A cube has an edge of 5 cm. Find its volume, LSA and TSA.
Volume:
LSA:
TSA:
3. Cuboid
A cuboid has length L, breadth B, and height H.
Volume
Lateral Surface Area
Total Surface Area
Example
A cuboid has:
- L = 10 cm
- B = 6 cm
- H = 4 cm
Volume:
LSA:
TSA:
4. Cylinder
A cylinder has radius r and height h.
Volume
Curved Surface Area (CSA)
Total Surface Area (TSA)
Example
A cylinder has radius 7 cm and height 10 cm. Find its volume. Use π = 22/7.
= 22/7 × 7² × 10
= 22/7 × 49 × 10
5. Cone
A cone has radius r, height h, and slant height l.
Volume
Curved Surface Area
Total Surface Area
Example
A cone has radius 3 cm and height 4 cm. Find its volume.
= ⅓ × π × 3² × 4
= ⅓ × π × 9 × 4
6. Frustum
A frustum has:
- R = larger radius
- r = smaller radius
- h = height
- l = slant height
Volume
Curved Surface Area
Total Surface Area
Example
A frustum has:
- R = 5 cm
- r = 3 cm
- h = 4 cm
Find its volume.
= ⅓π(25 + 9 + 15) × 4
= ⅓π × 49 × 4
7. Sphere
Volume
Surface Area
Example
Find the volume of a sphere of radius 3 cm.
= ⁴⁄₃ × π × 3³
= ⁴⁄₃ × π × 27
8. Hollow Sphere
A hollow sphere has an outer radius R and inner radius r.
Volume
Total Surface Area
The hollow-sphere formulas above are reproduced according to the provided formula sheet.
Example
A hollow sphere has outer radius 5 cm and inner radius 3 cm. Find its volume.
= ⁴⁄₃π(5³ − 3³)
= ⁴⁄₃π(125 − 27)
= ⁴⁄₃π × 98
9. Hemisphere
A hemisphere is half of a sphere.
Volume
Curved Surface Area
Total Surface Area
Example
Find the volume of a hemisphere of radius 6 cm.
= ⅔ × π × 6³
= ⅔ × π × 216
10. Prism
For a prism, the formula sheet uses the general terms Base Area, Base Perimeter, and Height.
Volume
Lateral Surface Area
Total Surface Area
Example
A prism has a base area of 20 cm², base perimeter of 18 cm, and height of 10 cm.
Volume:
LSA:
TSA:
11. Pyramid
For a pyramid, the formula sheet uses:
- Base Area
- Base Perimeter
- Height
- Slant Height
Volume
Lateral Surface Area
Total Surface Area
Example
A pyramid has a base area of 30 cm², height 9 cm, base perimeter 24 cm, and slant height 10 cm.
Volume:
LSA:
TSA:
12. Complete Volume & Surface Area Formula Chart
| Solid | Volume | LSA / CSA | TSA / Surface Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube | a³ | 4a² | 6a² |
| Cuboid | LBH | 2(L+B)H | 2(LB+BH+HL) |
| Cylinder | πr²h | 2πrh | 2πr(r+h) |
| Cone | ⅓πr²h | πrl | πr(r+l) |
| Frustum | ⅓π(R²+r²+Rr)h | π(R+r)l | π(R+r)l + π(R²+r²) |
| Sphere | ⁴⁄₃πr³ | — | 4πr² |
| Hollow Sphere | ⁴⁄₃π(R³−r³) | — | 4πR² |
| Hemisphere | ⅔πr³ | 2πr² | 3πr² |
| Prism | Base Area × Height | Base Perimeter × Height | LSA + 2 × Base Area |
| Pyramid | ⅓ × Base Area × Height | ½ × Base Perimeter × Slant Height | LSA + Base Area |
13. How to Choose the Correct Formula
| If the Question Gives... | Use... |
|---|---|
| Edge of a cube | Cube formulas |
| Length, breadth and height | Cuboid formulas |
| Radius and height of cylinder | Cylinder formulas |
| Radius, height and slant height of cone | Cone formulas |
| Two radii and height of frustum | Frustum formulas |
| Radius of a sphere | Sphere formulas |
| Outer and inner radius | Hollow sphere formulas |
| Radius of a hemisphere | Hemisphere formulas |
| Base area/perimeter and height | Prism formulas |
| Base area/perimeter and height/slant height | Pyramid formulas |
14. Important Differences to Remember
LSA vs TSA
LSA means Lateral Surface Area. It generally covers the side surfaces of the solid.
TSA means Total Surface Area. It includes the complete outer surface as specified by the formula.
CSA vs TSA
For curved solids such as a cylinder, cone and hemisphere:
- CSA = Curved Surface Area
- TSA = Total Surface Area
15. Mixed Solved Example
Example 1 — Cube
Side = 4 cm.
Example 2 — Cuboid
L = 8 cm, B = 5 cm, H = 3 cm.
Example 3 — Cylinder
r = 7 cm, h = 5 cm. Use π = 22/7.
Example 4 — Cone
r = 3 cm, h = 6 cm.
Example 5 — Sphere
r = 2 cm.
16. Common Mistakes
1. Confusing area and volume
Area is measured in square units, while volume is measured in cubic units.
2. Forgetting the 1/3 in cone and pyramid
3. Using diameter instead of radius
If diameter d is given:
4. Confusing height and slant height
In a cone, h is vertical height and l is slant height.
5. Forgetting the two bases
For a cylinder:
The total surface area includes both circular bases.
17. Competitive Exam Shortcuts
Memorise these high-frequency formulas:
18. Practice Questions
Question 1: Find the volume and TSA of a cube whose side is 6 cm.
Question 2: A cuboid has length 12 cm, breadth 8 cm and height 5 cm. Find its volume.
Question 3: Find the volume of a cylinder with radius 7 cm and height 10 cm. Use π = 22/7.
Question 4: Find the volume of a cone with radius 6 cm and height 7 cm.
Question 5: Find the volume of a sphere whose radius is 6 cm.
Question 6: Find the volume of a hemisphere whose radius is 7 cm.
Question 7: A hollow sphere has outer radius 8 cm and inner radius 5 cm. Find its volume.
Question 8: A prism has base area 40 cm² and height 12 cm. Find its volume.
Question 9: A pyramid has base area 60 cm² and height 15 cm. Find its volume.
Question 10: A cylinder has radius 5 cm and height 12 cm. Find its CSA.
19. Quick Revision
20. Final Exam Tip
Before solving any volume or surface-area question, identify the solid first.
- Cube? → use cube formulas.
- Cuboid? → use L, B and H.
- Cylinder? → identify r and h.
- Cone? → identify r, h and l.
- Frustum? → identify R, r, h and l.
- Sphere? → identify r.
- Hollow sphere? → identify R and r.
- Hemisphere? → remember it is half a sphere.
- Prism? → Base Area × Height.
- Pyramid? → ⅓ × Base Area × Height.
Always check the final unit: cm² for surface area and cm³ for volume.
This Part 15 follows the final two pages of the provided mensuration formula PDF. Page 10 contains the formulas for Cube, Cuboid, Cylinder, Cone and Frustum, while page 11 contains Sphere, Hollow Sphere, Hemisphere, Prism and Pyramid. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The provided PDF ends with the Volume & Surface Area formulas. If you want to continue the website series, the next part can be prepared as a separate Mensuration Practice Questions & Solved Problems section based on these formulas.
