Volume of a Sphere: Formula, Derivation & Solved Examples

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Volume of a Sphere is referred to as the measurement of the space that it occupies. The volume of a sphere is measured in cubic units, such as m3, cm3, in3, etc. The shape of the sphere is round and three-dimensional that has no edges or vertices. It has three axes which are, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis which define its shape. Here, we will be learning to find the volume of a sphere by deducing the formula of the volume of a sphere.

Read More: Difference between Area and Volume

Key Terms: Sphere, Volume of Sphere, Radius, Diameter, Volume, Three-dimensional Shape, Cone, Cylinder


What is Volume of Sphere?

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The sphere is a three-dimensional structure. Like a circle, the sphere also possesses a center and a radius. All the points at a distance of radius in space together form a sphere. Twice the distance of a radius is called its diameter.

Sphere

Sphere

Also ReadEdges, Faces, and Vertices


Volume of a Sphere Formula

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The formula for the volume of a sphere is calculated using the radius of the three-dimensional structure. Spheres can be of two types, solid and hollow. The formula which is used to calculate the volume of a solid sphere is given below:

Volume of Sphere = 4/3 πr3

Where, r is the Radius of the Sphere.

In the case of a hollow sphere, there is a thin layer that has mass or volume, and it makes the hollow sphere. So, the volume is calculated as the

Volume of Hollow Sphere = (Volume of Outer Sphere) – (Volume of Inner Sphere)

Volume of Hollow Sphere =  4/3 πR3 - 4/3 πr3

Where

  • R = Radius of Outer Sphere
  • r = Radius of the Inner Sphere

Volume of sphere needs the value of the radius or its diameter. In the case of diameter, the value has to be halved to get the radius of the sphere.

Also read: Sphere Formula


Derivation of the Volume of a Sphere

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The formula can be derived using two methods, the Arrhenius method, and by integration method. Both of the methods used to derive the formula are explained below:

Arrhenius Method

According to this method, the volume of a sphere is calculated using the volume of a cone and a cylinder that have an equal radius, cross-section area and also height equal to twice the radius. According to this method, the volume of such a cylinder is equal to the sum of the volume of a cone, and sphere, further these volumes are in the ratio 1:2:3 (cylinder: sphere: cone).

Thus,

Volume of a cylinder = Volume of sphere + Volume of a cone

Volume of sphere = Volume of cylinder – Volume of cone

Volume of cylinder = 3 x Volume of cone

Volume of a cylinder = πr2h …….. (1)

πr2h = 3 x Volume of cone

Volume of the cone = πr2h/3 …….. (2)

Volume of sphere = Volume of cylinder – Volume of cone

Volume of sphere = πr2h - πr2h/3

Volume of sphere = 2 πr2h/3

h = 2r

Volume of sphere = 2 πr2 2r/3

Volume of sphere = 4 πr3/3

The volume of a solid sphere = 4/3 π r3

Also ReadQuadrilateral

Integration Method

Integration Method of Volume of Sphere

Integration Method

Integration method assumes that the sphere is made up of circular discs having thickness dy and radius x. They are placed at a different height from the center of the sphere, have radius r, and have varied radiuses. The disc selected for the derivation is placed at the height z from the central plane.

According to Pythagoras' theorem:

x2 + z2 = r2

x = r2 - z2

Area of the disk thus is π (r2 – z2)

Now we need to calculate the area of all the discs that would make up the sphere, thus we apply integration to the formula above from +r to -r.

V = r∫ -r (r2–z2)dy

V = π (zr2 – z2/3)

V = π [2/3r3 – (-2/3 r3)]

Thus, the volume of a solid sphere = 4/3 π r3

Also Read: Surface Areas and Volumes Revision Notes


How to Calculate Volume of a Sphere?

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The volume of a sphere is the space occupied within it. It can be calculated with the above formula, which we have already derived. In order to find the volume of a given sphere, follow the steps given below:

  • Check the value of the radius of the given sphere. If the diameter of the sphere is known, then divide it by 2, to get the radius
  • Then take the cube of the radius r3
  • Now multiply it with (4/3)π
  • Finally, add the units to the final answer.

Solved Examples on Volume of Sphere

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Example 1: Find the volume of a sphere having a radius of 5 cm.

Solution: Given, the volume of a sphere formula, 

V = 4/3 πr3

= (4/3) x 3.14 x 53

= (4/3) x 3.14 x 5 x 5 x 5

= 523.3 cm3

Example 2: Find the radius of the sphere when the volume of a sphere is 523 cubic yards.

Solution: Given,

V = 523 cubic yards

Volume of a sphere, V = 4/3 πr3

523 = (4/3) x 3.14 x r3

523 = 4.19r3

Divide both sides by 4.19

r3 = 124.82

3√r3 = 3√124.82

r = 5

So, the radius of the sphere is 5 yards.

Example 3: Find the volume of a sphere with a radius of 24 mm.

Solution: As we know the radius is half of the diameter, then

r = 24/2 = 12 mm

The volume of a sphere = 4/3 πr3

By substitution, we get

V = (4/3) x 3.14 x 12 x 12 x 12 = 7734.6 mm3

Example 4: The radius of an inflated spherical balloon is 7 feet. If air is leaking from the balloon at a constant rate of 26 cubic feet per minute, then how long will it take for the balloon to be completely deflated?

Solution: Given that

Volume of the spherical balloon = 4/3 πr3

Volume = 4/3 x 3.14 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 1436.03 cubic feet

Now, divide the volume of the balloon by the rate of leakage

Time in minutes = 1436.03 cubic feet/26 cubic feet = 55 minutes

Read More:


Things to Remember

  • A sphere is a three-dimensional structure.
  • The properties of a sphere are similar to a circle.
  • The volume of a solid sphere = 4/3 πr3
  • The volume of hollow sphere = 4/3 πR3 - 4/3 πr3
  • The surface area of a sphere is 4 πr2
  • The formula to derive the formula to calculate the volume of a sphere can be of two ways: Arrhenius and integration method.

Read MorePerimeter of Parallelogram


Sample Questions

Ques. Find the volume of a ball having a radius of 6 m. (2 Marks)

Ans. Radius of the ball = 6 m

Volume = 4/3 πr3

V = 4 x 22 x 6x6x6/3 x 7

Volume = 905.14 m3

Ques. Find the volume of a sphere having a diameter of 10 m. (3 Marks)

Ans. Diameter = 10 m

Radius = Diameter/2 = 5 m

Volume = 4/3 πr3

V = 4 x 22 x 5x5x5/3 x 7

Volume = 523.8 m3

Ques. A spherical vessel has an inner diameter of 14 m, find its capacity. (3 Marks)

Ans. Capacity of the vessel = volume

Diameter = 14 m

Radius = 7 m

Volume = 4/3 πr3

V = 4 x 22 x 7x7x7/3 x 7

Volume = 1378.6 m3

Ques. A sphere is made up of a thick sheet having a thickness of 1 cm. The inner radius is 5 cm. Find the volume of metal used. (4 Marks)

Ans. Volume of metal used = volume of metal and hollow sphere.

The volume of hollow sphere = 4/3 πR3 - 4/3 πr3

R’ = outer radius = 5 + 1 = 6 cm

R” = inner radius = 5 cm

Volume of hollow sphere = 4/3 πR3 - 4/3 πr3

The volume of hollow sphere = 4/3 π (R3 - r3)

The volume of hollow sphere = 4/3 π (125 - 108)

The volume of hollow sphere = 71.2 cm3

Ques. A metal cube has a side of 7 cm. How many spheres can be made out of it having radius 1 cm. (2 Marks)

Ans. Side of cube = 7cm

Volume of cube = 441 cm3

Volume of sphere to be made = 4/3 πr3 = 4.18 cm3

Number of spheres that can be made = 441/4.18 cm3 = 105.5 spheres

Ques. A sphere has a volume of 1000 m3, what is its diameter? (2 Marks)

Ans. Volume = 1000 m3 = 4/3 πr3

r = 31000x3x7/4x22

Radius = 6.2 m

Ques. A cone and a sphere have equal volume and equal radius, find the ratio of the height of the cone and the radius of the sphere. (2 Marks)

Ans. Volume of sphere = volume of the cone

4/3 πr3 = 1/3 πr2h

r = h/4

h = 4r

Thus, the ratio of r: h is 4:1

Ques. A cylinder has a height equal to three times its radius. Its volume is equal to the volume of a sphere having a radius of 4 cm. Find the radius of the cylinder. (4 Marks)

Ans. Height of cylinder = 3 r’ (radius of cylinder)

Volume of cylinder = volume of sphere

πr’2h = 4/3 πr3

πr’2h = 4 x 22 x 4x4x4/3 x 7

πr’2h = 268.19

πr’2 3r’ = 268.19

3πr’3 = 268.19

r’ = 50.2 cm

Ques. Find the volume of a ball having a radius of 5 cm. (2 Marks)

Ans. Radius of the ball = 5 cm

Volume = 4/3 πr3

V = 4 x 22 x 5x5x5/3 x 7

Volume = 523.8 cm3

Ques. Find the volume of a sphere having a diameter of 20 cm. (2 Marks)

Ans. Diameter = 20 cm

Radius = Diameter/2 = 10 cm

Volume = 4/3 πr3

V = 4 x 22 x 10x10x10/3 x 7

Volume = 4190.4 cm3

Ques. Find the volume of a hemisphere ball having a radius of 7 cm. (2 Marks)

Ans. Radius of the ball = 7 m

Volume = 4/3 πr3

V = 4 x 22 x 7x7x7/3 x 7

Volume = 1378.6 m3


Check-Out: 

CBSE X Related Questions

1.

Form the pair of linear equations for the following problems and find their solution by substitution method.

(i) The difference between two numbers is 26 and one number is three times the other. Find them.

(ii) The larger of two supplementary angles exceeds the smaller by 18 degrees. Find them.

(iii) The coach of a cricket team buys 7 bats and 6 balls for Rs 3800. Later, she buys 3 bats and 5 balls for Rs 1750. Find the cost of each bat and each ball.

(iv) The taxi charges in a city consist of a fixed charge together with the charge for the distance covered. For a distance of 10 km, the charge paid is Rs 105 and for a journey of 15 km, the charge paid is Rs 155. What are the fixed charges and the charge per km? How much does a person have to pay for travelling a distance of 25 km.

(v) A fraction becomes\(\frac{ 9}{11}\), if 2 is added to both the numerator and the denominator. If, 3 is added to both the numerator and the denominator it becomes \(\frac{5}{6}\). Find the fraction.

(vi) Five years hence, the age of Jacob will be three times that of his son. Five years ago, Jacob’s age was seven times that of his son. What are their present ages?

      2.

      A vertical pole of length 6 m casts a shadow 4 m long on the ground and at the same time a tower casts a shadow 28 m long. Find the height of the tower.

          3.

          Prove the following identities, where the angles involved are acute angles for which the expressions are defined:\(\frac{(\text{1 + tan² A})}{(\text{1 + cot² A})} = (\frac{\text{1 - tan A }}{\text{ 1 - cot A}})^²= \text{tan² A}\)

              4.
              Find the sums given below :
              1. \(7 + 10\frac 12+ 14 + ....... + 84\)
              2. \(34 + 32 + 30 + ....... + 10\)
              3. \(–5 + (–8) + (–11) + ....... + (–230)\)

                  5.
                  If 3 cot A = 4, check whether \(\frac{(1-\text{tan}^2 A)}{(1+\text{tan}^2 A)}\) = cos2 A – sinA or not

                      6.

                      Solve the following pair of linear equations by the substitution method. 
                      (i) x + y = 14 
                          x – y = 4   

                      (ii) s – t = 3 
                          \(\frac{s}{3} + \frac{t}{2}\) =6 

                      (iii) 3x – y = 3 
                            9x – 3y = 9

                      (iv) 0.2x + 0.3y = 1.3 
                           0.4x + 0.5y = 2.3 

                      (v)\(\sqrt2x\) + \(\sqrt3y\)=0
                          \(\sqrt3x\) - \(\sqrt8y\) = 0

                      (vi) \(\frac{3x}{2} - \frac{5y}{3}\) =-2,
                          \(\frac{ x}{3} + \frac{y}{2}\) = \(\frac{ 13}{6}\)

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