Calculate the Surface Area of 3D Shapes

In this activity, we will calculate the surface area of 3D shapes

The surface area of a 3D shape is the area of all the faces of the shape added together.

It is easy if we imagine the net of the shape.

Remember, the net of a 3D shape is what the shape would look like if it was opened out and laid flat.

The net of a cube looks like this.......

It is made up of six identical square faces.

If each side of the square face was 2 cm we could work out the surface area of the cube.

The area of one side is base x height = 2 x 2 = 4 cm²

There are six identical sides

Surface area = 6 x 4 cm²

= 24 cm²

Let's try some questions with some other 3D shapes!