Math resources Geometry 3D shapes

Hemisphere shape

Hemisphere shape

Here you will learn about the hemisphere shape, including what a hemisphere is and how to calculate the volume of a hemisphere and the surface area of a hemisphere.

Students will first learn about the hemisphere shape as part of geometry in elementary school, but they will learn calculations involving the hemisphere shape in high school.

What is a hemisphere shape?

A hemisphere shape is a three-dimensional shape that is half of a sphere.

Hemisphere shape 1 US

To visualize this, let’s look at a sphere. A sphere is a 3D shape where every point of its surface is equidistant (the same distance) from the center of the sphere. It has a radius r.

Hemisphere shape 2 US

A hemisphere is half of a sphere. The prefix β€œhemi” means half.

Hemisphere shape 3 US

You may have come across the word hemisphere in the real life context of planet Earth. You can split the world into 2 equal halves – the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere.

Hemisphere shape 4 US

[FREE] 3D Shape Check for Understanding Quiz (Grade 1, 5 and 6)

[FREE] 3D Shape Check for Understanding Quiz (Grade 1, 5 and 6)

[FREE] 3D Shape Check for Understanding Quiz (Grade 1, 5 and 6)

Use this quiz to check your grade 1, 5 and 6 students’ understanding of 3D shape. 10+ questions with answers covering a range of 1st, 5th and 6th grade 3D shape topics to identify areas of strength and support!

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[FREE] 3D Shape Check for Understanding Quiz (Grade 1, 5 and 6)

[FREE] 3D Shape Check for Understanding Quiz (Grade 1, 5 and 6)

[FREE] 3D Shape Check for Understanding Quiz (Grade 1, 5 and 6)

Use this quiz to check your grade 1, 5 and 6 students’ understanding of 3D shape. 10+ questions with answers covering a range of 1st, 5th and 6th grade 3D shape topics to identify areas of strength and support!

DOWNLOAD FREE

Properties of a hemisphere

A hemisphere is a geometric shape which has a curved surface area. The base of a hemisphere is a flat face, which is a circle.

Hemisphere shape 5 US

A hemisphere has no vertices and one edge. It is not made up of polygons, so it is not a polyhedron.

Faces: 2

Edges: 1

Vertices: 0

Volume of a hemisphere

The volume of a hemisphere is based on the volume of a sphere.

To calculate the volume of a sphere, where r is the radius of the sphere, you use the formula:

\text{Volume of a sphere}=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi r^3

To find the volume of a hemisphere you halve the volume of a sphere.

Here is the volume of a hemisphere formula, with r as the radius of the hemisphere:

\text{Volume of a hemisphere}=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi r^3\div 2

or

\text{Volume of a hemisphere}=\cfrac{2}{3} \pi r^{3}

See also: Volume of a hemisphere

Surface area of a hemisphere

The surface area of a hemisphere is based on the surface area of a sphere.

To calculate the surface area of a sphere with radius r, you can use the formula

\text{Surface area of a sphere}=4\pi{r}^{2}

So to find the curved surface area of the hemisphere, you need to halve the surface area of the sphere.

4\pi{r}^{2}\div 2=2\pi{r}^{2}

However this would only give the curved surface area. If you want the total surface area, you need to add the area of the base of the hemisphere.

The area of the base, which is a circle, is given by \pi r^{2}.

Here is the surface area of a hemisphere formula, for a hemisphere with radius r

\text{Total surface area of a hemisphere}=2\pi{r}^{2}+\pi{r}^{2}=3\pi{r}^{2}.

See also: Surface area of a hemisphere

What is a hemisphere shape?

What is a hemisphere shape?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to high school math?

  • High School – Geometry – Geometric Measurement & Dimension (HS.G.GMD.A.2)
    Give an informal argument using Cavalieri’s principle for the formulas for the volume of a sphere and other solid figures.

How to work out the volume or surface area of a hemisphere

In order to find the volume or surface area of a hemisphere:

  1. Write down the formula for the sphere.
  2. Adapt the formula for the question.
  3. Substitute in the value.
  4. Write the final answer.

Hemisphere shape examples

Example 1: volume

The radius of a hemisphere is 12.4\mathrm{~cm}. Find the volume of the hemisphere to the nearest whole number.

Hemisphere shape 6 US

  1. Write down the formula for the sphere.

You need to consider the formula for the volume of a sphere.

V=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi r^3

2Adapt the formula for the question.

The formula needs to be halved for the volume of a hemisphere.

V=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \div 2

3Substitute in the value.

Then you substitute in the value 12.4 in place of r.

V=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi (12.4)^3 \div 2

4Write the final answer.

The answer is 3993.223…

This rounds to give 3993 \mathrm{~cm}^3 (to the nearest whole number) as the volume of the hemisphere.

Example 2: volume in terms of π

Find the volume of a hemisphere with radius 15\mathrm{~cm}. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

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Write down the formula for the sphere.

Adapt the formula for the question.

Substitute in the value.

Write the final answer.

Example 3: curved surface area

Find the curved surface area of a hemisphere with diameter 4.5\mathrm{~m}. Give your answer to the nearest tenth.

Hemisphere shape 8 US

Write down the formula for the sphere.

Adapt the formula for the question.

Substitute in the value.

Write the final answer.

Example 4: total surface area

Find the total surface area of a hemisphere with radius 7.6\mathrm{~cm}. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

Hemisphere shape 9 US

Write down the formula for the sphere.

Adapt the formula for the question.

Substitute in the value.

Write the final answer.

Example 5: curved surface area in terms of π

Find the curved surface area of a hemisphere with radius 8\mathrm{~cm}. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

Hemisphere shape 10 US

Write down the formula for the sphere.

Adapt the formula for the question.

Substitute in the value.

Write the final answer.

Example 6: total surface area in terms of π

Find the total surface area of a hemisphere with diameter 10\mathrm{~cm}. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

Hemisphere shape 11 US

Write down the formula for the sphere.

Adapt the formula for the question.

Substitute in the value.

Write the final answer.

Teaching tips for hemisphere shape

  • Use physical models of spheres and hemispheres. Show everyday items like hemispherical bowls, domes, and igloos.

  • Incorporate problem-solving exercises and worksheets that require students to apply the formulas for volume of a hemisphere and surface area of a hemisphere in different contexts.

  • Hands-on activity: Have students create both solid and hollow hemisphere models using materials like clay for solid hemispheres and papier-mΓ’chΓ© or plastic for hollow hemispheres. Let students weigh the solid and hollow models to understand the difference in mass. Have them calculate the volume and surface area for each type, reinforcing the mathematical concepts.

Easy mistakes to make

  • Using the incorrect formula
    There are several formulas that can be used in geometry, so you need to match the correct formula to the correct context.

  • Mixing up total surface area and curved surface area
    Double check whether the question requires you to find the curved surface area of a hemisphere or the total surface area of a hemisphere.

  • Rounding too soon
    It is important to not round the answer until the end of the calculation. This will mean your final answer is accurate. It is useful to keep your answer in terms of \pi until you round the answer at the very end of the question.

  • Using incorrect units
    For area you use square units such as \mathrm{cm}^2.
    For volume you use cube units such as \mathrm{cm}^3.

  • Mixing up the radius and the diameter
    It is a common error to mix up radius and diameter. Remember, the radius is half of the diameter.

Practice hemisphere shape questions

1. Find the volume of a hemisphere with radius 11.3\mathrm{~cm}. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

 

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3020 \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz False

3022 \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz True

6044 \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz False

6040 \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz False

You need to halve the formula for the volume of a sphere, and then substitute the value of 11.3 in place of r.

 

\begin{aligned}V&=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi {r}^{3}\div 2 \\\\ V&=\cfrac{4}{3} \times \pi \times {11.3}^{3}\div 2 \\\\ V&=3021.996… \\\\\ V&=3022 \mathrm{~cm}^3 \\ & \text{(to the nearest whole number)} \end{aligned}

2. Find the volume of a hemisphere with diameter 4\mathrm{~cm}. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

 

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\cfrac{16}{3}\pi \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz True

\cfrac{32}{3}\pi \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz False

\cfrac{256}{3}\pi \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz False

\cfrac{128}{3}\pi \mathrm{~cm}^3
GCSE Quiz False

You have been given the diameter 4, which you need to divide by 2 to get the radius. You need to halve the formula for the volume of a sphere, and then substitute the value of 2 in place of r.

 

\begin{aligned}V&=\cfrac{4}{3} \pi {r}^{3}\div 2 \\\\ V&=\cfrac{4}{3} \times \pi \times {2}^{3}\div 2 \\\\ V&=\cfrac{16}{3}\pi \\\\ V&=\cfrac{16}{3}\pi \mathrm{~cm}^3 \end{aligned}

3. Find the curved surface area of a hemisphere with radius 12.8\mathrm{~cm}. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

 

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515 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

1029 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz True

1540 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

2060 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

You need to halve the formula for the surface area of a sphere to find the curved surface area of a hemisphere (CSA). Then you substitute the value of 12.8 in place of r.

 

\begin{aligned}CSA&=4 \pi {r}^{2}\div 2 \\\\ CSA&=2\pi {r}^{2} \\\\ CSA&=2\times \pi \times {12.8}^{2} \\\\ CSA&=1029.437… \\\\ CSA&=1029 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \\ & \text{(to the nearest whole number)} \end{aligned}

4. Find the curved surface area of a hemisphere with radius 11\mathrm{~cm}. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

 

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242\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz True

121\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

968\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

44\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

You need to halve the formula for the surface area of a sphere to find the curved surface area of a hemisphere (CSA). Then you substitute the value of 11 in place of r.

 

\begin{aligned}CSA&=4 \pi {r}^{2}\div 2 \\\\ CSA&=2\pi {r}^{2} \\\\ CSA&=2\times \pi \times {11}^{2} \\\\ CSA&=242\pi \\\\ CSA&=242\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2 \end{aligned}

5. Find the total surface area of a hemisphere with radius 62\mathrm{~cm}. Give your answer to the nearest hundred.

 

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48400 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

48300 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

36300 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

36200 \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz True

You need to halve the formula for the surface area of a sphere and add on the circular base to find the total surface area of a hemisphere (TSA). Then you substitute the value of 62 in place of r.

 

\begin{aligned}TSA&=4 \pi {r}^{2}\div 2 + 2\pi {r}^{2} \\\\ TSA&=3\pi {r}^{2} \\\\ TSA&=3\times \pi \times {62}^{2} \\\\ TSA&=36228.8… \\\\ TSA&=36300 \mathrm{~cm}^2 \\ & \text{(to the nearest hundred)} \end{aligned}Β 

6. Find the total surface area of a hemisphere with radius 15\mathrm{~cm}. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

 

Hemisphere shape 17 US

225\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

450\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

675\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz True

900\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2
GCSE Quiz False

You need to halve the formula for the surface area of a sphere and add on the circular base to find the total surface area of a hemisphere (TSA). Then you substitute the value of 15 in place of r.

 

\begin{aligned}TSA&=4 \pi {r}^{2}\div 2 + 2\pi {r}^{2} \\\\ TSA&=3\pi {r}^{2} \\\\ TSA&=3\times \pi \times {15}^{2} \\\\ TSA&=675\pi \\\\ TSA&=675\pi \mathrm{~cm}^2 \, \text{(to 3 sf)} \end{aligned}

Hemisphere shape FAQs

What is a hemisphere shape?

A hemisphere is a three-dimensional shape that represents half of a sphere. It is formed by cutting a sphere into two equal halves along a plane passing through its center.

What is the difference between the total surface area and the curved surface area of a hemisphere?

The total surface area of a hemisphere includes both the curved surface area and the area of the flat circular base, while the curved surface area (also called lateral surface area) includes only the curved part of the hemisphere.

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