8th grade · Math · Unit 15 of 17
Cones, Cylinders & Spheres
Volume of round solids
What your child practices
Using the volume formulas for cylinders, cones and spheres, in terms of π and with 3.14.
Alabama Course of Study content standard: 8.29; 8.30 · using the formulas for the volumes of cones, cylinders and spheres
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Cylinder: V = πr²h.
- Cone: V = ⅓πr²h, one third of the matching cylinder.
- Sphere: V = (4/3)πr³.
Example: A cylinder has radius 3 cm and height 5 cm. What is its volume, in terms of π? r² = 9. 9 × 5 = 45. Answer: 45π cm³
Cones, Cylinders & Spheres in Alabama
In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 15 of 17 in 8th grade Math, after Functions and before Slope & Rate of Change.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
A cone has radius 5 in and height 12 in. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 100π in³
- 125π in³
- 300π in³
- 40π in³
100π in³
Hint: V = ⅓πr²h = ⅓ × π × 5² × 12.
Question 2
A cylinder has radius 1 cm and height 9 cm. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 9π cm³
- 18π cm³
- 36π cm³
9π cm³
Hint: V = πr²h = π × 1² × 9.
Question 3
A cone and a cylinder have the same base and height. The cylinder holds 75 cm³. How much does the cone hold?
- 37.5 cm³
- 225 cm³
- 72 cm³
- 25 cm³
25 cm³
Hint: A cone holds one third of the matching cylinder.
Question 4
A can has radius 2 cm and height 10 cm. Using 3.14 for π, what is its volume in cm³?
answer boxcm³
125.6 cm³
Hint: V = 3.14 × 2² × 10.
Question 5
A ball has radius 6 cm. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 216π cm³
- 576π cm³
- 288π cm³
- 144π cm³
288π cm³
Hint: V = (4/3)πr³ = (4/3) × π × 216.
Question 6
A can has radius 5 cm and height 7 cm. Using 3.14 for π, what is its volume in cm³?
answer boxcm³
549.5 cm³
Hint: V = 3.14 × 5² × 7.