SAT Math : How to find the volume of a sphere

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #181 : Psat Mathematics

A solid hemisphere has a radius of length r. Let S be the number of square units, in terms of r, of the hemisphere's surface area. Let V be the number of cubic units, in terms of r, of the hemisphere's volume. What is the ratio of S to V?

Possible Answers:

\frac{4r}{3}

\frac{9r}{2}

\frac{9}{2r}

\frac{3}{r}

3r

Correct answer:

\frac{9}{2r}

Explanation:

First, let's find the surface area of the hemisphere. Because the hemisphere is basically a full sphere cut in half, we need to find half of the surface area of a full sphere. However, because the hemisphere also has a circular base, we must then add the area of the base.

S = \frac{1}{2}\cdot (surface area of sphere) + (surface area of base)

The surface area of a sphere with radius r is equal to 4\pi r^2. The surface area of the base is just equal to the surface area of a circle, which is \pi r^2.

S=\frac{1}{2}\cdot 4\pi r^2+\pi r^2=2\pi r^2+\pi r^2=3\pi r^2

The volume of the hemisphere is going to be half of the volume of an entire sphere. The volume for a full sphere is \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3.

V = \frac{1}{2}\cdot (volume of sphere)

V = \frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3=\frac{2}{3}\pi r^3

Ultimately, the question asks us to find the ratio of S to V. To do this, we can write S to V as a fraction.

\frac{S}{V}=\frac{3\pi r^2}{\frac{2}{3}\pi r^3}

In order to simplify this, let's multiply the numerator and denominator both by 3.

\frac{S}{V}=\frac{3\pi r^2}{\frac{2}{3}\pi r^3} = \frac{9\pi r^2}{2\pi r^3}=\frac{9}{2r}

The answer is \frac{9}{2r}.

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

Find the volume of a sphere with a radius of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the volume of the sphere.

Substitute the radius and solve for the volume.

Example Question #32 : Spheres

Six spheres have volumes that form an arithmetic sequence. The two smallest spheres have radii 4 and 6. Give the volume of the largest sphere.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The volume of a sphere with radius  can be determined using the formula

.

The smallest sphere, with radius , has volume

.

The second-smallest sphere, with radius , has volume

.

The volumes are in an arithmetic sequence; their common difference is the difference of these two volumes, or

Since the six volumes are in an arithmetic sequence, the volume of the largest of the six spheres - that is, the sixth-smallest sphere - is

Example Question #33 : Spheres

The radii of six spheres form an arithmetic sequence. The smallest and largest spheres have radii 10 and 30, respectively. Give the volume of the second-largest sphere.

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives a correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The radii of the spheres form an arithmetic sequence, with 

 and 

The common difference  can be computed as follows:

The second-largest - or fifth-smallest - sphere has radius:

 

The volume of a sphere with radius  can be determined using the formula

.

Set :

Example Question #34 : Spheres

A sphere with radius  fits perfectly inside of a cube so that the sides of the cube are barely touching the sphere. What is the volume of the cube that is not occupied by the sphere? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Because the sides of the interior of the cube are tangent to the sphere, we know that the length of each side is equal to the diameter of the sphere. Since the radius of this sphere is , then its diameter is

To find the volume that is not occupied by the sphere, we will subtract the sphere's volume from the volume of the cube.

The volume of the cube is: 

The volume of the sphere is:

Therefore, with these values, the volume of the cube not occupied by the sphere is:

 

Example Question #121 : Solid Geometry

A sphere fits inside of a cube so that its surface barely touches each side of the cube at any given time. If the volume of the box is 27 cubic centimeters, then what is the volume of the sphere?  

Possible Answers:

None of the given answers. 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If the volume of the cube is 27 cubic centimeters, then its height, width, and depth are all 3cm. Since the sphere fits perfectly in the cube, then the sphere's diameter is also 3. This means that its radius is .

Substitute this radius value into the equation for the volume of a sphere:

Example Question #811 : Geometry

The surface area of a sphere is 100. Give its volume. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The surface area  of a sphere is equal to 

,

where  is the radius.

Setting  and solving for :

Applying the Quotient of Radicals Rule:

The volume of the sphere can be determined from the radius using the formula

,

so, setting :

Applying the Quotient of Radicals Rule:

Rationalizing the denominator:

Example Question #41 : Spheres

 is a point on a sphere, and  is the point on the sphere farthest from . The shortest curve from  to  that is completely on the sphere is  in length. 

Give the volume of the sphere.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The figure referenced is below.  is the center of the sphere.

Sphere

The shortest curve connecting  to its opposite point  is a semicircle. Also,  is a diameter of the sphere, and  and  are radii. 

Given radius , a semicircle has length

Setting  and solving for :

.

The volume of a sphere, given its radius , is

.

Setting :

 

Example Question #41 : Spheres

Find the volume of a sphere whose diameter is 10cm.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Radius is half of the diameter. Half of 10cm is 5cm.

Example Question #12 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere

Spheres  element76

The radius of the sphere shown here is  long. What is its volume?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula for the volume  of a sphere given its radius  is

The radius is stated to be  long; hence, we can calculate the sphere's volume by substituting this value for  into the formula, as shown:

Hence, the volume of the sphere is 

 

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