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.
Alaska content standards learning standard: 8.G.9 · 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 Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, 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.
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
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 cylinder has radius 5 cm and height 6 cm. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 150π cm³
- 30π cm³
- 600π cm³
- 60π cm³
150π cm³
Hint: V = πr²h = π × 5² × 6.
Question 2
A can has radius 1 cm and height 4 cm. Using 3.14 for π, what is its volume in cm³?
answer boxcm³
12.56 cm³
Hint: V = 3.14 × 1² × 4.
Question 3
A cone and a cylinder have the same base and height. The cylinder holds 21 cm³. How much does the cone hold?
- 10.5 cm³
- 18 cm³
- 7 cm³
- 63 cm³
7 cm³
Hint: A cone holds one third of the matching cylinder.
Question 4
A cone has radius 2 in and height 3 in. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 4π in³
- 8π in³
- 12π in³
4π in³
Hint: V = ⅓πr²h = ⅓ × π × 2² × 3.
Question 5
A ball has radius 9 cm. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 729π cm³
- 1944π cm³
- 324π cm³
- 972π cm³
972π cm³
Hint: V = (4/3)πr³ = (4/3) × π × 729.
Question 6
A cone and a cylinder have the same base and height. The cylinder holds 33 cm³. How much does the cone hold?
- 16.5 cm³
- 30 cm³
- 11 cm³
- 99 cm³
11 cm³
Hint: A cone holds one third of the matching cylinder.