High School Math : Spheres

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of \(\displaystyle 12\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2304\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 1728\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 144\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 1600\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2304\pi\)

Explanation:

To solve for the volume of a sphere, you must first know the equation for the volume of a sphere.

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}(\pi)(r^{3})\)

In this equation, \(\displaystyle r\) is equal to the radius. We can plug the given radius from the question into the equation for \(\displaystyle r\).

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}(\pi)(12^{3})\)

Now we simply solve for \(\displaystyle V\).

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}(\pi)(1728)\)

\(\displaystyle V=(\pi)(2304)=2304\pi\)

The volume of the sphere is  \(\displaystyle 2304\pi\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 4? (Round to the nearest tenth)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 75.9\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 91.2\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 75.3\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 85.3\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 85.3\pi\)

Explanation:

To solve for the volume of a sphere you must first know the equation for the volume of a sphere.

The equation is

Then plug the radius into the equation for \(\displaystyle r\) yielding 

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}(4^3)\pi\)

Then cube the radius to get

 \(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}(64)\pi\)

Multiply the answer by \(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}\) and  to yield \(\displaystyle 85.3\pi\).

The answer is \(\displaystyle 85.3\pi\).

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

For a sphere the volume is given by = (4/3)πr3 and the surface area is given by = 4πr2. If the sphere has a surface area of 256π, what is the volume?

Possible Answers:

750π

300π

615π

683π

Correct answer:

683π

Explanation:

Given the surface area, we can solve for the radius and then solve for the volume.

4πr2 = 256π

4r2 = 256

r2 = 64

r = 8

Now solve the volume equation, substituting for r:

V = (4/3)π(8)3

V = (4/3)π*512

V = (2048/3)π

V = 683π

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

Circle_with_diameter

A typical baseball is \(\displaystyle 76mm\) in diameter. Find the baseball's volume in cubic centimeters.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 22984.7cm^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 1838cm^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 2786cm^{3}\)

Not enough information to solve

\(\displaystyle 230cm^{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 230cm^{3}\)

Explanation:

In order to find the volume of a sphere, use the formula

 \(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}\)

We were given the baseball's diameter, \(\displaystyle \dpi{100} D=76mm\), which must be converted to its radius.

\(\displaystyle D=2r\)

\(\displaystyle 76mm=2r\)

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{76mm}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \rightarrow 38mm\)

Now we can solve for volume.

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi (38mm)^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi (54872mm^{3})\)

\(\displaystyle V=73162\frac{2}{3}mm^{3}*\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \rightarrow 229847.30mm^{3}\)

Convert to centimeters.

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \frac{229847.30mm^{3}}{1}*\frac{1cm^{3}}{1000mm^{3}}\approx 230cm^{3}\)

If you arrived at \(\displaystyle 1838cm^{3}\) then you did not convert the diameter to a radius.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

What is the volume of a sphere whose radius is \(\displaystyle r=1.6in\).

Possible Answers:

Not enough information to solve

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 16.17in^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 17.16in^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \dpi{100} 6.59in^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 9.65in^{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 17.16in^{3}\)

Explanation:

In order to find the volume of a sphere, use the formula

 \(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}\)

We were given the radius of the sphere, \(\displaystyle r=1.6in\).Therefore, we can solve for volume.

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} V=\frac{4}{3}\pi (1.6in)^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} V=\frac{4}{3}\pi (4.096in^{3})\)

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} V=17.16in^{3}\)

If you calculated the volume to be \(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 9.65in^{3}\) then you multiplied by \(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\) rather than by \(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

To the nearest tenth of a cubic centimeter, give the volume of a sphere with surface area 1,000 square centimeters.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3,141.6\textrm{ cm}^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 991.2\textrm{ cm}^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 785.4\textrm{ cm}^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 2,973.5 \textrm{ cm}^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 743.4 \textrm{ cm}^{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2,973.5 \textrm{ cm}^{3}\)

Explanation:

The surface area of a sphere in terms of its radius \(\displaystyle r\) is 

\(\displaystyle A = 4\pi r^2\)

Substitute \(\displaystyle A = 1,000\) and solve for \(\displaystyle r\):

\(\displaystyle 4\pi r^2 =A\)

\(\displaystyle 4\pi r^2 =1,000\)

\(\displaystyle r^2 =\frac{1,000}{4\pi } = \frac{250}{\pi }\)

\(\displaystyle r =\sqrt{ \frac{250}{\pi }} \approx 8.92 \textrm{ cm }\)

Substitute for \(\displaystyle r\) in the formula for the volume of a sphere:

\(\displaystyle V = \frac{4\pi r^3}{3} \approx\frac{4\pi \cdot 8.92^3}{3} \approx 2,973.5 \textrm{ cm }^{3}\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

Find the volume of the following sphere.

Sphere

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 288 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 300 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 270 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 360 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 312 \pi m^3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 288 \pi m^3\)

Explanation:

The formula for the volume of a sphere is:

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3} \pi r^3\)

where \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius of the sphere.

 

Plugging in our values, we get:

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3} \pi (6m)^3\)

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3} \pi 216m^3 = 288 \pi m^3\)

Example Question #1 : Spheres

Find the volume of the following sphere.

Sphere

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 972 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 992 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 962 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 952 \pi m^3\)

\(\displaystyle 982 \pi m^3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 972 \pi m^3\)

Explanation:

The formula for the volume of a sphere is:

\(\displaystyle V = \frac{4 \pi r^3}{3}\)

Where \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius of the sphere

 

Plugging in our values, we get:

\(\displaystyle V = \frac{4 \pi (9m)^3}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle V = 972 \pi m^3\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

The specifications of an official NBA basketball are that it must be 29.5 inches in circumference and weigh 22 ounces.  What is the approximate volume of the basketball?   Remember that the volume of a sphere is calculated by V=(4πr3)/3

 

Possible Answers:

434.19 cu.in.

138.43 cu.in.

92.48 cu.in.

3468.05 cu.in.

8557.46 cu.in.

Correct answer:

434.19 cu.in.

Explanation:

To find your answer, we would use the formula:  C=2πr. We are given that C = 29.5. Thus we can plug in to get  [29.5]=2πr and then multiply 2π to get 29.5=(6.28)r.  Lastly, we divide both sides by 6.28 to get 4.70=r. Then we would plug into the formula for volume V=(4π〖(4.7)〗3) / 3   (The information given of 22 ounces is useless) 

 

 

 

Example Question #1 : Spheres

What is the volume of a sphere with a diameter of \(\displaystyle 12\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 288\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 1152\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 2304\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 24\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 48\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 288\pi\)

Explanation:

The formula for volume of a sphere is \(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\).

The problem gives us the diameter, however, and not the radius. Since the diameter is twice the radius, or \(\displaystyle d=2r\), we can find the radius.

\(\displaystyle 12=2r\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{2}=r\)

\(\displaystyle 6=r\).

Now plug that into our initial equation.

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\)

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi (6)^3\)

\(\displaystyle V=\frac{4}{3}\pi(216)\)

\(\displaystyle V=288\pi\)

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