CBSE • Class 10Mathematics • Chapter 12

Surface Areas and VolumesNCERT Solutions, AI Tutor & Practice

Surface area and volume of combinations of two or more solids — cube, cuboid, sphere, hemisphere, cylinder, cone — and frustum-related problems.

Aligned to the latest NCERT 2024-25 edition • 2 exercises covered • Free plan, no credit card

What you will learn

  • Compute surface area and volume of a combination of solids
  • Compute the volume of a frustum of a cone
  • Apply formulae to real-life problems involving solid combinations

Key concepts in this chapter

CubeCuboidSphereHemisphereCylinderConeFrustum

NCERT Exercise-wise Solutions

2 exercises17 questions covered • Open any exercise for theme, focus topics and Socratic AI walkthroughs

Frequently asked NCERT questions in this chapter

  1. A toy is in the form of a cone mounted on a hemisphere. Find its total surface area.
  2. Find the volume of a frustum of a cone with radii 14 cm and 7 cm and height 20 cm.
  3. A solid metallic sphere of radius 10.5 cm is melted and recast into smaller cones of radius 3.5 cm and height 3 cm. How many cones?

Step-by-step NCERT solutions

12 solved questions • Each solution includes a Socratic hint, full working and a common-mistake callout • Last reviewed 2026-09-03

Exercise 12.1 Q1 • 2 marks

Two cubes each of volume 64 cm364\ \text{cm}^3 are joined end to end. Find the surface area of the resulting cuboid.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
If you place two identical cubes side by side, how many square faces get hidden inside the joint?
Step-by-step solution

Volume of each cube =64 cm3= 64\ \text{cm}^3, so edge a=643=4 cma = \sqrt[3]{64} = 4\ \text{cm}.

Joining two cubes end to end gives a cuboid with:

  • length l=4+4=8 cml = 4+4 = 8\ \text{cm}
  • breadth b=4 cmb = 4\ \text{cm}
  • height h=4 cmh = 4\ \text{cm}

Surface area of cuboid: 2(lb+bh+hl)=2(8×4+4×4+4×8)2(lb+bh+hl) = 2(8\times4 + 4\times4 + 4\times8) =2(32+16+32)=2×80=160 cm2= 2(32+16+32) = 2\times80 = 160\ \text{cm}^2

So the surface area is 160 cm2160\ \text{cm}^2.

Common mistake:
Adding the two cubes' individual surface areas (6a2×2=1926a^2 \times 2 = 192) without subtracting the two hidden faces that are joined together.
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Exercise 12.1 Q2 • 3 marks

A toy is in the form of a cone of radius 3.5 cm3.5\ \text{cm} mounted on a hemisphere of the same radius. The total height of the toy is 15.5 cm15.5\ \text{cm}. Find the total surface area of the toy. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Which surfaces are actually visible — do you use the flat base of the hemisphere or its curved surface?
Step-by-step solution

Radius r=3.5 cmr = 3.5\ \text{cm}.

Height of hemisphere =r=3.5 cm= r = 3.5\ \text{cm}. Height of cone h=15.53.5=12 cmh = 15.5 - 3.5 = 12\ \text{cm}.

Slant height of cone: l=r2+h2=3.52+122=12.25+144=156.25=12.5 cml = \sqrt{r^2 + h^2} = \sqrt{3.5^2 + 12^2} = \sqrt{12.25 + 144} = \sqrt{156.25} = 12.5\ \text{cm}

Total surface area = CSA of cone + CSA of hemisphere: =πrl+2πr2=πr(l+2r)= \pi r l + 2\pi r^2 = \pi r(l + 2r) =227×3.5×(12.5+7)= \frac{22}{7}\times 3.5 \times (12.5 + 7) =227×3.5×19.5=11×19.5=214.5 cm2= \frac{22}{7}\times 3.5 \times 19.5 = 11 \times 19.5 = 214.5\ \text{cm}^2

Total surface area =214.5 cm2= 214.5\ \text{cm}^2.

Common mistake:
Including the flat circular base of the hemisphere in the surface area — it is joined to the cone and not exposed.
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Exercise 12.1 Q3 • 3 marks

A cubical block of side 7 cm7\ \text{cm} is surmounted by a hemisphere of the largest possible diameter. Find the surface area of the solid. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
The largest hemisphere sits on the top face — how does adding its curved surface change the exposed top face of the cube?
Step-by-step solution

Side of cube a=7 cma = 7\ \text{cm}.

Largest hemisphere has diameter equal to the side =7 cm= 7\ \text{cm}, so radius r=3.5 cmr = 3.5\ \text{cm}.

Surface area of solid = Surface area of cube − circular base area of hemisphere + curved surface of hemisphere: =6a2πr2+2πr2=6a2+πr2= 6a^2 - \pi r^2 + 2\pi r^2 = 6a^2 + \pi r^2

Compute: 6a2=6×49=294 cm26a^2 = 6\times 49 = 294\ \text{cm}^2 πr2=227×3.5×3.5=38.5 cm2\pi r^2 = \frac{22}{7}\times 3.5 \times 3.5 = 38.5\ \text{cm}^2

Total =294+38.5=332.5 cm2= 294 + 38.5 = 332.5\ \text{cm}^2.

Common mistake:
Forgetting to subtract the circular base πr2\pi r^2 where the hemisphere covers the top face, so the top area is counted twice.
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Exercise 12.1 Q4 • 3 marks

A vessel is in the shape of a hollow cylinder mounted on a hollow hemisphere of the same radius 7 cm7\ \text{cm}. The total height of the vessel is 13 cm13\ \text{cm}. Find the inner surface area of the vessel. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Which two curved surfaces line the inside — and what is the cylinder's height once the hemisphere's part is removed?
Step-by-step solution

Radius r=7 cmr = 7\ \text{cm}.

Height of hemisphere =r=7 cm= r = 7\ \text{cm}. Height of cylinder h=137=6 cmh = 13 - 7 = 6\ \text{cm}.

Inner surface area = CSA of cylinder + CSA of hemisphere: =2πrh+2πr2=2πr(h+r)= 2\pi r h + 2\pi r^2 = 2\pi r (h + r) =2×227×7×(6+7)= 2\times \frac{22}{7}\times 7 \times (6 + 7) =2×22×13=572 cm2= 2\times 22 \times 13 = 572\ \text{cm}^2

Inner surface area =572 cm2= 572\ \text{cm}^2.

Common mistake:
Using the total height of 13 cm13\ \text{cm} for the cylinder instead of subtracting the hemisphere's radius first.
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Exercise 12.1 Q5 • 3 marks

A medicine capsule is in the shape of a cylinder with two hemispheres stuck to its ends. The length of the entire capsule is 14 mm14\ \text{mm} and the diameter of the capsule is 5 mm5\ \text{mm}. Find its surface area. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Two hemispheres of equal radius together make up how much of the two ends of the cylinder's length?
Step-by-step solution

Diameter =5 mm= 5\ \text{mm}, so radius r=2.5 mmr = 2.5\ \text{mm}.

The two hemispheres cover the ends, occupying r+r=5 mmr + r = 5\ \text{mm} of the length. Cylinder length h=145=9 mmh = 14 - 5 = 9\ \text{mm}.

Surface area = CSA of cylinder + 2 × CSA of hemisphere: =2πrh+2(2πr2)=2πrh+4πr2=2πr(h+2r)= 2\pi r h + 2(2\pi r^2) = 2\pi r h + 4\pi r^2 = 2\pi r(h + 2r) =2×227×2.5×(9+5)= 2\times \frac{22}{7}\times 2.5 \times (9 + 5) =2×227×2.5×14=2×22×2.5×2=220 mm2= 2\times \frac{22}{7}\times 2.5 \times 14 = 2\times 22 \times 2.5 \times 2 = 220\ \text{mm}^2

Surface area =220 mm2= 220\ \text{mm}^2.

Common mistake:
Subtracting only one radius (2.5 mm) from the length instead of the combined 5 mm for the two hemispherical ends.
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Exercise 12.1 Q6 • 3 marks

A tent is in the shape of a cylinder surmounted by a conical top. The radius of the base is 4 m4\ \text{m}, the height of the cylindrical part is 2.1 m2.1\ \text{m} and the slant height of the cone is 2.8 m2.8\ \text{m}. Find the area of the canvas required for the tent. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Canvas covers only the walls and the sloping roof — is the flat base or the top circle ever included?
Step-by-step solution

Radius r=4 mr = 4\ \text{m}, cylinder height h=2.1 mh = 2.1\ \text{m}, cone slant height l=2.8 ml = 2.8\ \text{m}.

Canvas area = CSA of cylinder + CSA of cone: =2πrh+πrl=πr(2h+l)= 2\pi r h + \pi r l = \pi r(2h + l) =227×4×(2×2.1+2.8)= \frac{22}{7}\times 4 \times (2\times 2.1 + 2.8) =227×4×(4.2+2.8)= \frac{22}{7}\times 4 \times (4.2 + 2.8) =227×4×7=88 m2= \frac{22}{7}\times 4 \times 7 = 88\ \text{m}^2

Area of canvas required =88 m2= 88\ \text{m}^2.

Common mistake:
Including the base circle of the cylinder in the canvas area, or using the cone's vertical height instead of its slant height.
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Exercise 12.2 Q1 • 2 marks

A solid is in the shape of a cone standing on a hemisphere, both having radius 1 cm1\ \text{cm} and the height of the cone equal to its radius. Find the volume of the solid in terms of π\pi.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Can you just add the volume of the cone to the volume of the hemisphere?
Step-by-step solution

Radius r=1 cmr = 1\ \text{cm}, cone height h=1 cmh = 1\ \text{cm}.

Volume of solid = Volume of cone + Volume of hemisphere: =13πr2h+23πr3= \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h + \frac{2}{3}\pi r^3 =13π(1)2(1)+23π(1)3= \frac{1}{3}\pi (1)^2(1) + \frac{2}{3}\pi (1)^3 =13π+23π=π cm3= \frac{1}{3}\pi + \frac{2}{3}\pi = \pi\ \text{cm}^3

Volume of the solid =π cm3= \pi\ \text{cm}^3.

Common mistake:
Using the sphere volume 43πr3\tfrac{4}{3}\pi r^3 instead of the hemisphere volume 23πr3\tfrac{2}{3}\pi r^3.
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Exercise 12.2 Q2 • 3 marks

A vessel is in the form of an inverted cone. Its height is 8 cm8\ \text{cm} and radius of its top is 5 cm5\ \text{cm}. It is filled with water up to the brim. When lead shots, each of radius 0.5 cm0.5\ \text{cm}, are dropped in, one-fourth of the water flows out. Find the number of lead shots dropped. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
The overflowed water volume equals the total volume of all the spherical shots — how do you relate the two?
Step-by-step solution

Cone: r=5 cmr = 5\ \text{cm}, h=8 cmh = 8\ \text{cm}.

Volume of water in cone: V=13πr2h=13π(25)(8)=2003π cm3V = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h = \frac{1}{3}\pi (25)(8) = \frac{200}{3}\pi\ \text{cm}^3

Water that flows out =14V=14×2003π=503π cm3= \dfrac{1}{4}V = \dfrac{1}{4}\times \dfrac{200}{3}\pi = \dfrac{50}{3}\pi\ \text{cm}^3.

Volume of one lead shot (sphere), rs=0.5 cmr_s = 0.5\ \text{cm}: =43πrs3=43π(0.5)3=43π×0.125=0.53π cm3= \frac{4}{3}\pi r_s^3 = \frac{4}{3}\pi (0.5)^3 = \frac{4}{3}\pi \times 0.125 = \frac{0.5}{3}\pi\ \text{cm}^3

Number of shots: n=water outone shot=503π0.53π=500.5=100n = \frac{\text{water out}}{\text{one shot}} = \frac{\tfrac{50}{3}\pi}{\tfrac{0.5}{3}\pi} = \frac{50}{0.5} = 100

So 100100 lead shots were dropped.

Common mistake:
Equating the shots to the full cone volume instead of only one-fourth of it (the water that overflowed).
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Exercise 12.2 Q3 • 3 marks

A metallic sphere of radius 6 cm6\ \text{cm} is melted and recast into a solid cylinder of radius 4 cm4\ \text{cm}. Find the height of the cylinder.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
When one shape is melted and recast into another, which quantity stays exactly the same?
Step-by-step solution

When recast, volume is conserved.

Volume of sphere == Volume of cylinder: 43πR3=πr2h\frac{4}{3}\pi R^3 = \pi r^2 h

Here R=6 cmR = 6\ \text{cm}, r=4 cmr = 4\ \text{cm}. 43π(6)3=π(4)2h\frac{4}{3}\pi (6)^3 = \pi (4)^2 h 43×216=16h\frac{4}{3}\times 216 = 16 h 288=16h288 = 16 h h=18 cmh = 18\ \text{cm}

Height of the cylinder =18 cm= 18\ \text{cm}.

Common mistake:
Equating surface areas instead of volumes, since it is the material (volume) that is conserved on melting.
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Exercise 12.2 Q4 • 3 marks

A container shaped like a right circular cylinder having diameter 12 cm12\ \text{cm} and height 15 cm15\ \text{cm} is full of ice cream. This ice cream is to be distributed to children in cones of height 12 cm12\ \text{cm} and diameter 6 cm6\ \text{cm}, each having a hemispherical top. Find the number of such cones that can be filled.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Each serving is a cone PLUS a hemisphere — what total volume must you divide the cylinder's volume by?
Step-by-step solution

Cylinder: radius R=6 cmR = 6\ \text{cm}, height H=15 cmH = 15\ \text{cm}. Vcyl=πR2H=π(36)(15)=540π cm3V_{cyl} = \pi R^2 H = \pi (36)(15) = 540\pi\ \text{cm}^3

Each ice-cream serving: cone radius r=3 cmr = 3\ \text{cm}, cone height h=12 cmh = 12\ \text{cm}, hemisphere radius 3 cm3\ \text{cm}.

Volume of cone =13πr2h=13π(9)(12)=36π= \dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h = \dfrac{1}{3}\pi (9)(12) = 36\pi

Volume of hemisphere =23πr3=23π(27)=18π= \dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^3 = \dfrac{2}{3}\pi (27) = 18\pi

Total per serving =36π+18π=54π cm3= 36\pi + 18\pi = 54\pi\ \text{cm}^3.

Number of cones: n=540π54π=10n = \frac{540\pi}{54\pi} = 10

So 1010 cones can be filled.

Common mistake:
Forgetting to add the hemispherical top's volume to each cone, thus overestimating the number of servings.
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Exercise 12.2 Q5 • 3 marks

A solid iron pole consists of a cylinder of height 220 cm220\ \text{cm} and base diameter 24 cm24\ \text{cm}, surmounted by another cylinder of height 60 cm60\ \text{cm} and radius 8 cm8\ \text{cm}. Find the total volume of the pole. (Take π=3.14\pi = 3.14)
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
The pole is simply two stacked cylinders — can their volumes be added directly?
Step-by-step solution

Lower cylinder: radius r1=12 cmr_1 = 12\ \text{cm}, height h1=220 cmh_1 = 220\ \text{cm}. V1=πr12h1=3.14×144×220=99475.2 cm3V_1 = \pi r_1^2 h_1 = 3.14 \times 144 \times 220 = 99475.2\ \text{cm}^3

Upper cylinder: radius r2=8 cmr_2 = 8\ \text{cm}, height h2=60 cmh_2 = 60\ \text{cm}. V2=πr22h2=3.14×64×60=12057.6 cm3V_2 = \pi r_2^2 h_2 = 3.14 \times 64 \times 60 = 12057.6\ \text{cm}^3

Total volume: V=V1+V2=99475.2+12057.6=111532.8 cm3V = V_1 + V_2 = 99475.2 + 12057.6 = 111532.8\ \text{cm}^3

Total volume of the pole =111532.8 cm3= 111532.8\ \text{cm}^3.

Common mistake:
Using the given diameter of the lower cylinder (24 cm) directly as its radius instead of halving it to get 12 cm.
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Exercise 12.2 Q6 • 3 marks

A well of diameter 3 m3\ \text{m} is dug 14 m14\ \text{m} deep. The earth taken out has been spread evenly all around it in the shape of a circular ring of width 4 m4\ \text{m} to form an embankment. Find the height of the embankment. (Take π=227\pi = \tfrac{22}{7})
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
The dug-out earth (a cylinder) is reshaped into a hollow ring — how do you find the ring's base area between two circles?
Step-by-step solution

Well: radius r=1.5 mr = 1.5\ \text{m}, depth =14 m= 14\ \text{m}.

Volume of earth dug out: V=πr2h=227×(1.5)2×14=227×2.25×14=99 m3V = \pi r^2 h = \frac{22}{7}\times (1.5)^2 \times 14 = \frac{22}{7}\times 2.25 \times 14 = 99\ \text{m}^3

Embankment is a hollow ring: inner radius =1.5 m= 1.5\ \text{m}, width =4 m= 4\ \text{m}, so outer radius R=1.5+4=5.5 mR = 1.5 + 4 = 5.5\ \text{m}.

Base area of ring: =π(R2r2)=227(5.521.52)=227(30.252.25)=227×28=88 m2= \pi(R^2 - r^2) = \frac{22}{7}(5.5^2 - 1.5^2) = \frac{22}{7}(30.25 - 2.25) = \frac{22}{7}\times 28 = 88\ \text{m}^2

Let height of embankment =H= H. Since volume is conserved: 88×H=9988 \times H = 99 H=9988=1.125 mH = \frac{99}{88} = 1.125\ \text{m}

Height of the embankment =1.125 m= 1.125\ \text{m}.

Common mistake:
Using the outer radius alone (a full cylinder πR2\pi R^2) instead of the ring area π(R2r2)\pi(R^2 - r^2), ignoring the hollow well in the middle.
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How to solve Surface Areas and Volumes on Mindarc

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FAQs about this chapter

Is the frustum of a cone in the latest CBSE Class 10 syllabus?+

Yes. Surface area and volume of a frustum of a cone is in the rationalised 2024-25 edition of NCERT Class 10 Maths Chapter 12.

All Class 10 Mathematics chapters

  1. 1.Real Numbers
  2. 2.Polynomials
  3. 3.Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables
  4. 4.Quadratic Equations
  5. 5.Arithmetic Progressions
  6. 6.Triangles
  7. 7.Coordinate Geometry
  8. 8.Introduction to Trigonometry
  9. 9.Some Applications of Trigonometry
  10. 10.Circles
  11. 11.Areas Related to Circles
  12. 12.Surface Areas and Volumes
  13. 13.Statistics
  14. 14.Probability

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