3D Shapes and Types

What are 3D Shapes?

• A 3-dimensional shape is any solid object with three distinct dimensions (length, width, and height).
• 3D shapes occupy volume and have thickness or depth, unlike 2D shapes.
• Examples of 3D shapes include Torus, Sphere, Cylinder, Cube, Cone.

Types of 3D Shapes

Pyramid

• A pyramid is a solid object with triangular sides converging to a point at the top of the shape.
• The base of a pyramid can have three or more sides.
• Examples of pyramids include the pyramids built in ancient Egypt.

Rectangular Prism or Cuboid

• A rectangular prism is a four-sided object that adds a third dimension to a rectangle.
• Opposite sides of a rectangular prism are equal.
• Examples of rectangular prisms include a mattress.

Cube

• A cube is a solid object that adds a third dimension to a square.
• A cube has all equal sides.
• Examples of cubes include a cardboard box or dice.

Sphere

• A sphere is a solid object that originates from a circle.
• A sphere will roll around due to its round form.
• Examples of spheres include a soccer ball.

Cylinder

• A cylinder adds a third dimension to a circle.
• A cylinder has a circle on either side of the shape.
• Examples of cylinders include a can of soup.

Cone

• A cone is an object with a circular base and a height that extends as a third dimension.
• The circular base comes up to a point, like a pyramid.
• Examples of cones include an ice cream cone.

Other 3D Shapes

Torus

• A torus is a 3D shape that is formed by placing a larger circle around a smaller circle to form a three-dimensional circular shape.
• A torus has no vertices or edges.
• Examples of toruses include a donut or a tire.

Prisms

• A prism is a solid object with identical shapes at the opposite ends, with flat parallelogram sides.
• Examples of prisms include a rectangular prism, square prism, triangular prism, or pentagonal prism.

Polyhedrons

• A polyhedron is a 3D shape that has one or more polygons on all of its sides, with edges and sharp vertices.
• Examples of polyhedrons include a cube, prism, pyramid, tetrahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron.

Identifying Properties of 3D Shapes

Cube

• 6 total sides
• All sides are squares, and all sides are equal.

Sphere

• Perfectly symmetrical
• No edge or vertices

Cylinder

• Flat, circular base and identical top
• Base and top are parallel
• One round, curved side

Rectangular Prism

• Six rectangular sides
• Opposite sides are parallel and are the same size
• All sides are not equal

Cone

• One circular base
• One pointed top
• One curved, rounded side

Pyramid

• A polygonal base
• Triangular sides that come up to a pointed top

Torus

• Circular shape
• Empty, hollow center

Prism

• Identical shapes at opposite ends of the object
• Multiple flat sides

Polyhedron

• No round edges or sides
• Multiple flat sides in the shape of a polygon

Learn about 3-dimensional shapes, their characteristics, and different types of 3D shapes, including pyramids.