Worksheets · Foundation and Higher

Pyramids, cones, spheres and composite solids

8 exam-style questions, grades 3 to 9. Worked solutions and the marks are on the last page.

  1. Question 1Calculator · 2 marks

    A sphere has a radius of 6 cm. Volume of a sphere =43πr3= \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3, where rr is the radius.

    (a) Work out the volume of the sphere. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. (2)

  2. Question 2Non-calculator · 2 marks

    A pyramid has a square base of side 6 cm. Its perpendicular height is 10 cm and each sloping edge is 11.6 cm long. Volume of a pyramid =13×= \frac{1}{3} \times area of base ×\times perpendicular height.

    (a) Work out the volume of the pyramid. (2)

  3. Question 3Non-calculator · 4 marks

    A sphere has radius 4 cm. It is melted without loss into small spheres of radius 1 cm.

    Volume of a sphere =43πr3= \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3

    (a) Find the number of small spheres produced. (2)

    (b) Find the exact total surface area of the small spheres. Surface area of a sphere =4πr2= 4\pi r^2 (2)

  4. Question 4Non-calculator · 4 marks

    A pyramid has rectangular base 5 cm by 7 cm and volume 105 cm³. The volume of a pyramid is 13×\frac13\times base area ×\times perpendicular height.

    (a) Find the perpendicular height. (2)

    (b) A prism has the same base area and volume. Find its height. (2)

  5. Question 5Calculator · 5 marks

    A solid cone has base radius 5 cm, perpendicular height 12 cm and slant height 13 cm. Curved surface area of a cone =πrl= \pi r l, where ll is the slant height. Volume of a cone =13πr2h= \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h.

    (a) Work out the volume of the cone. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. (2)

    (b) Work out the total surface area of the cone. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. (3)

  6. Question 6Non-calculator · 3 marks

    (a) A sphere has volume 972π972\pi cm³. Work out its radius. Use V = (4/3)πr3.\pi r^{3}. (3)

  7. Question 7Non-calculator · 3 marks

    (a) A solid frustum is made by removing the top of a right circular cone with a cut parallel to its base. The frustum has lower radius 6 cm, upper radius 2 cm and vertical height 8 cm. Work out its volume in terms of π.\pi . Volume of a cone =13πr2h= \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h You must show your working. (3)

  8. Question 8Non-calculator · 4 marks

    (a) A paper sector has radius 15 cm and angle 216∘.216^\circ. Its two straight edges are joined without overlap to form the curved surface of a cone. Work out the volume enclosed by the cone. Give your answer in terms of π.\pi . Volume of a cone =13πr2h= \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h You must show your working. (4)

Worked solutions and marks

Question 1

(a) 905 cm3905\text{ cm}^3

  1. Substitute r=6r = 6.
    43×π×63=288π=904.77…\tfrac{4}{3} \times \pi \times 6^3 = 288\pi = 904.77\ldots
  2. Correct to 3 significant figures: 905 cm3905\text{ cm}^3.
  • M1 43×π×63\frac{4}{3} \times \pi \times 6^3.
  • A1 905 cm3905\text{ cm}^3 (awrt 905).

Question 2

(a) 120 cm3120\text{ cm}^3

  1. Base area.
    6×6=366 \times 6 = 36
  2. 13×36×10=120\tfrac{1}{3} \times 36 \times 10 = 120
  • M1 Base area 36 used with the height 10.
  • A1 120 cm3120\text{ cm}^3.

Question 3

(a) 6464

  1. Divide the large sphere volume by the volume of one small sphere.
    (4π×43/3)/(4π3)(4\pi \times 4^{3}/3)/(\frac{4\pi}{3})
  2. Therefore 6464.
  • P1 Divide the large sphere volume by the volume of one small sphere.
  • A1 Correct answer: 6464

(b) 256π256\pi

  1. Multiply one small sphere’s area by the number of spheres.
    64×4π64\times 4\pi
  2. Therefore 256π256\pi.
  • M1 Multiply one small sphere’s area by the number of spheres.
  • A1 Correct answer: 256π256\pi

Question 4

(a) 99 cm

  1. Multiply volume by 3 and divide by base area.
    3×105/(5×7)3\times 105/(5\times 7)
  2. Therefore 99 cm.
  • M1 Multiply volume by 3 and divide by base area.
  • A1 Correct answer: 99 cm

(b) 33 cm

  1. A prism’s volume is base area times height.
    105/(5×7)105/(5\times 7)
  2. Therefore 33 cm.
  • M1 A prism’s volume is base area times height.
  • A1 Correct answer: 33 cm

Question 5

(a) 314 cm3314\text{ cm}^3

  1. 13×π×52×12=100π=314.15…\tfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times 5^2 \times 12 = 100\pi = 314.15\ldots
  • M1 13×π×52×12\frac{1}{3} \times \pi \times 5^2 \times 12.
  • A1 314 cm3314\text{ cm}^3 (awrt 314).

(b) 283 cm2283\text{ cm}^2

  1. Curved surface.
    π×5×13=65π\pi \times 5 \times 13 = 65\pi
  2. Circular base.
    π×52=25π\pi \times 5^2 = 25\pi
  3. Total.
    90π=282.74…90\pi = 282.74\ldots
  • P1 The curved surface area π×5×13\pi \times 5 \times 13.
  • P1 Adding the base, π×52\pi \times 5^2.
  • A1 283 cm2283\text{ cm}^2 (awrt 283).

Question 6

(a) 99 cm

  1. 972×3/4972\times 3/4
  2. 939^{3}
  3. Substitute the volume: (4/3)πr3\pi r^{3} = 972π.972\pi .
  4. Divide by π\pi and multiply by 3/4: r3r^{3} = 729.
  5. The positive cube root of 729 is 9, so the radius is 9 cm.
  • P1 Establishing 972×3/4972\times 3/4 or an equivalent valid method.
  • P1 Establishing 939^{3} or an equivalent valid method.
  • A1 Correct answer: 99 cm

Question 7

(a) 416π3\frac{416\pi}{3}

  1. 8/(1−2/6)8/(1-2/6)
  2. π×62×12/3−π×22×4/3\pi \times 6^{2}\times 12/3-\pi \times 2^{2}\times 4/3
  3. The removed cone and original cone are similar with radius ratio 2:6 = 1:3, so their heights are also in ratio 1:3.
  4. The frustum height is two equal height parts: each part is 8/2 = 4 cm. The removed and original cone heights are 4 cm and 12 cm.
  5. Subtract cone volumes: V = (1/3)π\pi ×\times 626^{2} ×\times 12 −- (1/3)π\pi ×\times 222^{2} ×\times 4.
  6. V = 144π144\pi −- 16π16\pi/3 = 416π416\pi/3 cm³.
  • P1 Establishing 8/(1−2/6)8/(1-2/6) or an equivalent valid method.
  • P1 Establishing π×62×12/3−π×22×4/3\pi \times 6^{2}\times 12/3-\pi \times 2^{2}\times 4/3 or an equivalent valid method.
  • A1 Correct answer: 416π3\frac{416\pi}{3}

Question 8

(a) 324π324\pi

  1. 216/360×2π×15216/360\times 2\pi \times 15
  2. 18π/(2π)18\pi /(2\pi )
  3. 152−92\sqrt{15^{2}-9^{2}}
  4. The sector arc becomes the base circumference: (216/360) ×\times 2π2\pi ×\times 15 = 18π18\pi cm.
  5. Thus 2πr2\pi r = 18π18\pi and the base radius is r = 9 cm. The sector radius becomes the slant height, 15 cm.
  6. The vertical height follows from Pythagoras: h = \sqrt{}(15215^{2} −- 929^{2}) = 12 cm.
  7. Volume = (1/3)π\pi ×\times 929^{2} ×\times 12 = 324π324\pi cm³.
  • P1 Establishing 216/360×2π×15216/360\times 2\pi \times 15 or an equivalent valid method.
  • P1 Establishing 18π/(2π)18\pi /(2\pi ) or an equivalent valid method.
  • P1 Establishing 152−92\sqrt{15^{2}-9^{2}} or an equivalent valid method.
  • A1 Correct answer: 324π324\pi

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Pyramids, cones, spheres and composite solids

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Independent practice for Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (1MA1), not endorsed by Pearson.

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