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Lesson 4-4: Volume of 3D Shapes

Scenario: Packaging & Storage - Calculate volumes for shipping boxes and storage containers!

Duration: 65-80 minutesScenario: Packaging & Storage

Learning Objectives

  • Calculate volume of rectangular prisms using V = l × w × h
  • Calculate volume of cylinders using V = πr²h
  • Calculate volume of triangular prisms using V = ½ × b × h × l
  • Apply volume calculations to real-world packaging problems

Packaging Problem

Shipping Box Design

You're designing shipping boxes for different products. Calculate the volume of each box to determine shipping costs and storage capacity.

Box Specifications:
• Rectangular Box: 8 cm × 6 cm × 4 cm
• Cylindrical Container: radius 5 cm, height 12 cm
• Triangular Prism: base 6 cm, height 8 cm, length 10 cm

Rectangular

Cylindrical

Triangular

Visual representation of the 3D shapes

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Rectangular Box: V = l × w × h

V = 8 × 6 × 4
V = 192 cm³

2. Cylindrical Container: V = πr²h

V = π × 5² × 12
V = π × 25 × 12
V = 300π ≈ 942 cm³

3. Triangular Prism: V = ½ × b × h × l

V = ½ × 6 × 8 × 10
V = ½ × 480
V = 240 cm³

Answer: Rectangular box = 192 cm³, Cylindrical container = 942 cm³, Triangular prism = 240 cm³

Volume Formulas

Rectangular Prism

V = l × w × h

Volume = length × width × height
Units: cubic units (cm³, m³, etc.)

Example: Box, room, book

Cylinder

V = πr²h

Volume = π × radius² × height
Units: cubic units (cm³, m³, etc.)

Example: Can, tube, pipe

Triangular Prism

V = ½ × b × h × l

Volume = ½ × base × height × length
Units: cubic units (cm³, m³, etc.)

Example: Roof, wedge, tent

Understanding Volume

What is Volume?

Volume is the amount of space inside a 3D shape. It tells us how much a container can hold or how much space an object takes up.

Think of it like this: If you fill a box with water, the volume is how much water it can hold!

Common Volume Units

  • • Cubic centimeters (cm³)
  • • Cubic meters (m³)
  • • Cubic inches (in³)
  • • Cubic feet (ft³)
  • • Liters (L) - for liquids
  • • Milliliters (mL) - for small amounts

Real-World Applications

  • • Shipping and packaging
  • • Storage capacity
  • • Construction materials
  • • Liquid containers
  • • Swimming pools
  • • Fuel tanks

Practice Problems

Problem 1

A storage container is 2 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 1 meter tall. What is the volume of the container?

Your solution:

Problem 2

A cylindrical water tank has a radius of 3 meters and a height of 8 meters. Calculate the volume of the tank.

Your solution: