Last updated on July 21st, 2025
The volume of a right circular cylinder is the total space it occupies or the number of cubic units it can hold. A cylinder is a 3D shape with two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface. To find the volume of a cylinder, we multiply the area of its base by its height. In real life, one can relate to the volume of a cylinder by thinking of things like a can of soup, a drum, or a fire extinguisher. In this topic, let’s learn about the volume of the cylinder.
The volume of a right circular cylinder is the amount of space it occupies.
It is calculated by using the formula: Volume = πr²h Where ‘r’ is the radius of the base, and ‘h’ is the height of the cylinder.
Volume of Cylinder Formula A cylinder is a 3-dimensional shape with two parallel circular bases.
To calculate its volume, you multiply the area of the base (πr²) by the height (h).
The formula for the volume of a cylinder is given as follows: Volume = πr²h
To derive the volume of a right circular cylinder, we use the concept of volume as the total space occupied by a 3D object.
Since a cylinder has a circular base, its volume can be derived as follows: The formula for the volume of a cylinder is: Volume = Area of Base x Height For a cylinder: Area of Base = πr² (where r is the radius of the base)
The volume of a cylinder will be, Volume = πr² x h
The volume of a cylinder is always expressed in cubic units, for example, cubic centimeters (cm³), cubic meters (m³). Multiply the area of the base by the height to find the volume.
Let’s take a look at the formula for finding the volume of a cylinder: Write down the formula Volume = πr²h The radius is the distance from the center to the edge of the base.
The height is the distance between the two bases. Once we know the radius and the height, substitute those values into the formula volume = πr²h To find the volume, calculate the area of the base and multiply it by the height.
Remember the formula: The formula for the volume of a cylinder is: Volume = πr²h Break it down: The volume is how much space fits inside the cylinder. You need to find the base area (πr²) and multiply it by the height.
Simplify the numbers: If the radius and height are simple numbers, it is easy to calculate.
For example, if r = 3 and h = 4, then the volume is π(3)²(4) = 36π.
Use π as 3.14 for quick calculations, but use the π button on a calculator for more precision.
Making mistakes while learning the volume of the cylinder is common.
Let’s look at some common mistakes and how to avoid them to get a better understanding of the volume of cylinders.
A cylinder has a radius of 3 cm and a height of 5 cm. What is its volume?
The volume of the cylinder is 141.3 cm³.
To find the volume of a cylinder, use the formula: V = πr²h Here, the radius is 3 cm and the height is 5 cm, so: V = π(3)²(5) = 45π ≈ 141.3 cm³
A cylinder has a radius of 7 m and a height of 10 m. Find its volume.
The volume of the cylinder is 1540 m³.
To find the volume of a cylinder, use the formula: V = πr²h Substitute the radius (7 m) and height (10 m): V = π(7)²(10) = 490π ≈ 1540 m³
The volume of a cylinder is 314 cm³ and its height is 4 cm. What is the radius of the cylinder?
The radius of the cylinder is 5 cm.
If you know the volume of the cylinder and need to find the radius, rearrange the formula: V = πr²h 314 = πr²(4) r² = 314 / (4π) ≈ 25 r = √25 = 5 cm
A cylinder has a radius of 2.5 inches and a height of 6 inches. Find its volume.
The volume of the cylinder is 117.8 inches³.
Using the formula for volume: V = πr²h Substitute the radius 2.5 inches and height 6 inches: V = π(2.5)²(6) = 37.5π ≈ 117.8 inches³
You have a cylindrical tank with a radius of 4 feet and a height of 8 feet. How much water (in cubic feet) can the tank hold?
The tank can hold 402.1 cubic feet of water.
Using the formula for volume: V = πr²h Substitute the radius 4 feet and height 8 feet: V = π(4)²(8) = 128π ≈ 402.1 ft³
Seyed Ali Fathima S a math expert with nearly 5 years of experience as a math teacher. From an engineer to a math teacher, shows her passion for math and teaching. She is a calculator queen, who loves tables and she turns tables to puzzles and songs.
: She has songs for each table which helps her to remember the tables