Common Solid Figures

Search

In third grade geometry we will discuss in brief about some of the common solid figures named
below:
(i) Cube: Definition of cube, parts of a cube, properties of a cube.

(ii) Cuboid: Definition of cuboid

(iii) Cylinder: Definition of cylinder

(iv) Cone: Definition of cone

(v) Sphere: Definition of sphere

Definition of a cube:
An object which looks like solid box-shaped that has six identical square faces.

A cube has 6 equal and plane surfaces. All the faces of a cube are square in shape.

In a cube there are 6 plane surfaces. There are 8 vertices and 12 edges.

105Save

Two adjoining plane – surfaces meet at an edge. There are 12 edges in a cube and all the 12 edges are
equal in length. These edges are straight edges.

The meeting point of two edges is called a vertex. In a cube there are 8 such vertices.

Parts of a cube:
(i) Face: Face is also known as sides. A cube has six faces and all the faces of a cube are square in
shapes. Each face has four equal sides.

(ii) Edge: When two edges meet each other a line segment formed. There are 12 edges in a cube. All
the 12 edges are equal in length because all faces are squares. These edges are straight edges.

(iii) Vertex: When three edges meet each other a point formed. There are 8 vertices in a cube.
(iv) Face Diagonals: Face Diagonals of a cube is the line segment that joins the opposite vertices of a
face. There are 2 diagonals in each face so altogether there are 12 diagonals in the cube.

(v) Space Diagonals: Space diagonals of a cube are the line segment that joins the opposite vertices
of a cube, cutting through its interior. There are 4 space diagonals in a cube.

Properties of a cube:
Volume: The volume of a cube is s3 where s is the length of one edge.

Surface Area: The surface area of a cube is 6s2, where s is the length of one edge.

Definition of cuboid:
The cuboid has 6 rectangular faces. The opposite rectangular plane surfaces are identical
(equal in all respects). It has 8 vertices and 12 edges.

In a cuboid there are 6 rectangular plane surfaces. There are 8 vertices and 12 edges.

105Save

A cube is also a cuboid having all its 6 faces equal and square. Thus, a cube has all the six faces
identical, whereas a cuboid has the opposite faces identical.

Properties of a cuboid:
Formulas for the above rectangular box:

Volume: The volume of a cuboid is lwh, where l is the length, w is the width and h is the height.

Lateral Surface Area: The lateral surface area of a cuboid is 2lh + 2wh, where l is the length, w is the
width and h is the height.

Surface Area: The surface area of a cuboid is 2lw + 2lh + 2wh, where l is the length, w is the width
and h is the height.

Definition of cylinder:
A cylinder stands on a circular plane surface having circular plane surfaces on its top and bottom. Thus
a cylinder has two circular plane surfaces, one at its base and another at its top. It has a curved surface
in the middle.

It has two edges, at which the two plane surfaces meet with the curved surface. These edges are
curved edges.

In a cylinder there are 2 plane surfaces and 1 curved surface. There are 2 edges and no vertices.
 105Save

The base and top of a cylinder are of the same shape (circular) and size. Thus, both are
identical.

Definition of cone:
A cone has one plane circular surface, i.e. its base and only one curved surface. In a cone
there is 1 plane surface and 1 curved surface. There are 1 edge and 1 vertex.

105Save

It has one edge which is formed by the circular plane surface meeting with the curved surface.
The edge of a cone is a curved edge.

Definition of sphere:
The ball-like shape is called a sphere. In sphere there is curve surface, no edge and no vertex.

105Save

Some of the common solid figures are explained above in brief with the labeled diagram to get
the basic ideas of the solid shapes.

Note:
(i) The surface of solid is called face.

(ii) Edge is formed when two faces meet.

(iii) The point where 3 faces meet is called the corner.

Plane Figure
Shapes are either two-dimensional shapes or flat plane geometry shapes. Their sides
are made of straight or curved lines they can have any number of sides. Plane figures
made of lines are called polygons. Triangle and squares are examples of polygons.
Example: We can say figures drawn on paper which have only length and breadth are
called 2-d figures.

Properties of 2-D Shapes

Two-dimensional shapes are planer. Graphically speaking, they depend on only two
coordinates X and Y for instance consisting of X unit and Y units respectively. In the
case of the coordinating system of more than two dimensions, the shape would still
depend on two coordinate directions.

See different 2D and 3D Figures and Shapes here.

Solid Shapes
You were also introduced to three-dimensional shapes. Many objects that you see in
your day to day life like book, pencil box, ice cream cone, football and cylinder are
three-dimensional objects. All these objects occupy some shape and have three
dimensions- length, breadth and height or depth.
Example: We can say that a figure drawn on paper which has length; breadth and
height are called 3-d figures. In a mathematical term, a 3D shape has three
dimensions. The D in 3D stands for dimensional. In a world with dimensions, you
can travel forward, backward, right, left, and even up and down.

Properties Of 3-D Shapes

3-d shapes have four properties that set them apart from 2-d shapes: faces, vertices,
edges and volume. These properties not only allow you to determine whether the
shape is 2-d or 3-d but also which 3-d shape it is.

Nets for Building 3-D shape

A geometry net is a 2-dimensional shape that can be folded to form a 3-dimensional

shape or a solid. Here you got a net by suitable separating the edges. Is the reverse
process possible?

Here is a net pattern for a box. Copy an enlarged version of the net and try to make
the box by suitable folding and glueing together. You may use suitable units. The box
is a solid figure. It’s a three-dimensional object with the shape of cuboids. We have
different nets for different shapes.

 A net is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional figure that is

unfolded along its edges so that each face the figure is shown in two dimensions.
 A net is a pattern made when the surface of a three-dimensional figure is laid out
felt showing each face of the figure. A solid may have different nets.
Faces, Edges and Vertices
Do you remember the faces, vertices and edges of solid shapes? Here you see for a
cube.

The corners of the cube are its vertices. The 12 line segments that form the skeleton
of the cube are its edges. The 6 flat square surfaces that are the skin of the cube are its
faces. Can you see that the two-dimensional figures can be identified as the faces of
the three-dimensional shapes? For example, a cylinder has two faces which are
circles, and a pyramid has a triangle as its faces.

Learn more about 3D Figures like Prism and Polyhedron here.

Solved Example For You

Q. Draw two different nets of a cube.

Sol: