- Real objects (toys, capsules, tents, bird-baths) are combinations of the five basic solids — cuboid, cube, cylinder, cone, sphere, hemisphere.
- Surface area of a combination = sum of the EXPOSED (visible) curved/flat surfaces — the joined faces vanish, so you do NOT just add the full TSAs.
- Volume of a combination = sum of the volumes of the parts (nothing disappears here — for a cavity you subtract).
- Master one formula table for $r,h,l$ of each solid; almost every question is "identify the parts, then add/subtract".
- For a cone, the slant height $l=\sqrt{r^{2}+h^{2}}$ is needed for CSA — a very common slip-up.
- Board weightage: ~5 marks/year — usually one combined-solid surface-area or volume problem (3–5 marks), often as a real-life word problem.
1. What this chapter is really about
In Class 9 you learnt to find surface areas and volumes of the five basic solids: cuboid (and cube), cylinder, cone, sphere and hemisphere. In real life we rarely meet a single clean solid — instead we meet combinations:
- An oil tanker = a cylinder with a hemisphere stuck at each end.
- A test tube or medicine capsule = a cylinder with hemispherical end(s).
- A spinning top (lattu) or ice-cream cone = a cone joined to a hemisphere.
- A tent = a cylinder topped by a cone.
This chapter teaches just two skills: (a) find the surface area of such a combination, and (b) find its volume / capacity. The whole trick is to break the object into known basic solids, handle each piece with formulas you already know, and then combine them carefully.
Note (rationalised syllabus): the frustum of a cone and "conversion of one solid into another" (melting/recasting) have been trimmed from the current NCERT chapter. We base these notes strictly on the present chapter — combinations of solids.
2. The formula table — your single most useful tool
Memorise this. Here $r$ = radius, $h$ = height, $l$ = slant height of a cone. CSA = curved surface area (the rounded/side part only), TSA = total surface area (everything, including flat ends).
| Solid | CSA / LSA | TSA | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuboid ($l,b,h$) | $2h(l+b)$ | $2(lb+bh+hl)$ | $lbh$ |
| Cube (edge $a$) | $4a^{2}$ | $6a^{2}$ | $a^{3}$ |
| Cylinder | $2\pi r h$ | $2\pi r(h+r)$ | $\pi r^{2}h$ |
| Cone | $\pi r l$ | $\pi r(l+r)$ | $\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h$ |
| Sphere | $4\pi r^{2}$ | $4\pi r^{2}$ | $\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}$ |
| Hemisphere | $2\pi r^{2}$ | $3\pi r^{2}$ | $\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}$ |
Two relationships you will use again and again:
For a hemisphere: CSA (the curved dome) $=2\pi r^{2}$, while TSA $=3\pi r^{2}$ because it adds the flat circular base $\pi r^{2}$. For a solid sphere there is no flat face, so CSA = TSA $=4\pi r^{2}$.
3. Surface area of a combination — the golden rule
When two solids are joined, the surfaces where they touch disappear from the outside — you can no longer see them. So:
You almost never add the full TSAs of the parts. Instead, walk over the new object and ask, "what can I actually see?" Typical patterns:
- Cylinder + hemisphere on each end (tanker, capsule): you see CSA of cylinder + CSA of two hemispheres. The flat circular ends of the cylinder are covered.
- Cone on a hemisphere (top/toy): you see CSA of cone + CSA of hemisphere. (Their joined flat circles vanish.)
- Hemisphere fixed on a cube: TSA of cube, but minus the circle where it sits (a base of radius $r$), plus the curved dome $2\pi r^{2}$.
- Hemisphere scooped OUT of a solid (depression): TSA of the block, minus the flat circle removed, plus the curved hollow $2\pi r^{2}$.
The key idea: when a flat circular face of area $\pi r^{2}$ is hidden or replaced, you subtract that $\pi r^{2}$ and add whatever new curved surface appears.
The top is a cone surmounted by a hemisphere. Total height $=5$ cm, diameter $=3.5$ cm so $r=\dfrac{3.5}{2}=1.75$ cm. Take $\pi=\dfrac{22}{7}$.
Hemisphere CSA $=2\pi r^{2}=2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times\dfrac{3.5}{2}\times\dfrac{3.5}{2}$.
Height of cone $=$ total height $-$ radius of hemisphere $=5-\dfrac{3.5}{2}=5-1.75=3.25$ cm.
Slant height $l=\sqrt{r^{2}+h^{2}}=\sqrt{(1.75)^{2}+(3.25)^{2}}\approx3.7$ cm.
Cone CSA $=\pi r l=\dfrac{22}{7}\times\dfrac{3.5}{2}\times3.7$.
Area to colour $=$ CSA of hemisphere $+$ CSA of cone $=\dfrac{22}{7}\times\dfrac{3.5}{2}(3.5+3.7)=\dfrac{11}{2}(3.5+3.7)=\dfrac{11}{2}\times7.2\approx39.6\ \text{cm}^{2}$. Note this is not the sum of the full TSAs of the two pieces.
4. Hemisphere sitting on a cube (Example 2)
A cube of edge $5$ cm carries a hemisphere of diameter $4.2$ cm on top, so $r=2.1$ cm. Take $\pi=\dfrac{22}{7}$.
TSA of cube $=6\times(\text{edge})^{2}=6\times5\times5=150\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
The hemisphere hides a circle of area $\pi r^{2}$ on the top face, and adds its curved dome $2\pi r^{2}$. So:
Surface area $=$ (TSA of cube) $-\pi r^{2}+2\pi r^{2}=150+\pi r^{2}$.
$\pi r^{2}=\dfrac{22}{7}\times2.1\times2.1=13.86\ \text{cm}^{2}$. Therefore surface area $=150+13.86=163.86\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
5. When the bases differ — exposed rings (Example 3)
If a cone sits on a cylinder but the cone's base is wider than the cylinder's, the leftover ring of the cone's base is exposed and must be counted.
Cone: $r=2.5$ cm, $h=6$ cm $\Rightarrow l=\sqrt{2.5^{2}+6^{2}}=\sqrt{6.25+36}=\sqrt{42.25}=6.5$ cm. Cylinder: $r'=1.5$ cm, height $=26-6=20$ cm.
Orange (cone) area $=$ CSA of cone $+$ base ring $=\pi r l+\pi r^{2}-\pi r'^{2}=\pi[(2.5\times6.5)+2.5^{2}-1.5^{2}]=\pi[16.25+6.25-2.25]=\pi\times20.25=3.14\times20.25=63.585\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
Yellow (cylinder) area $=$ CSA of cylinder $+$ its one base $=2\pi r'h'+\pi r'^{2}=\pi r'(2h'+r')=3.14\times1.5\times(40+1.5)=4.71\times41.5=195.465\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
6. Depression (cavity) on the surface (Example 4)
Cylinder height $h=1.45$ m $=145$ cm, radius $r=30$ cm. The hemispherical scoop at the top adds curved area but the visible surface is simply CSA of cylinder $+$ CSA of hemisphere.
TSA $=2\pi r h+2\pi r^{2}=2\pi r(h+r)=2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times30\times(145+30)=2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times30\times175=33000\ \text{cm}^{2}=3.3\ \text{m}^{2}$.
7. Volume of a combination — simply add
Volume behaves more kindly than surface area. When two solids are joined, no volume disappears, so:
If material is removed (a hemispherical scoop, a conical cavity, a sphere dropped in), you subtract the removed volume. "Capacity" means the volume of liquid/air it can hold.
Cuboid: $15\times7\times8$. Half-cylinder on top: diameter $7$ m so $r=3.5$ m, length $15$ m.
Volume $=lbh+\dfrac{1}{2}\pi r^{2}\,(\text{length})=15\times7\times8+\dfrac12\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times3.5\times3.5\times15=840+288.75=1128.75\ \text{m}^{3}$.
Machinery $=300$ m³; workers $=20\times0.08=1.6$ m³. Air left $=1128.75-(300+1.6)=827.15\ \text{m}^{3}$.
Glass is a cylinder: diameter $5$ cm $\Rightarrow r=2.5$ cm, height $10$ cm.
Apparent capacity $=\pi r^{2}h=3.14\times2.5\times2.5\times10=196.25\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
The raised hemisphere reduces it by $\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}=\dfrac{2}{3}\times3.14\times2.5^{3}=32.71\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Actual capacity $=196.25-32.71=163.54\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Diameter $4$ cm $\Rightarrow r=2$ cm; cone height $h=2$ cm.
Volume of toy $=\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}+\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h=\dfrac{2}{3}\times3.14\times8+\dfrac{1}{3}\times3.14\times4\times2=16.747\ldots+8.373\ldots=25.12\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Circumscribing cylinder: radius $2$ cm, height $=AO+OP=2+2=4$ cm. Its volume $=\pi r^{2}\times4=3.14\times4\times4=50.24\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Difference $=50.24-25.12=25.12\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
8. NCERT Exercise 12.1 — fully solved
Unless stated otherwise, $\pi=\dfrac{22}{7}$.
Q1. Two cubes of volume 64 cm³ joined end to end — surface area of the cuboid. Edge $=\sqrt[3]{64}=4$ cm. Joined cuboid: $l=8,\ b=4,\ h=4$. Surface area $=2(lb+bh+hl)=2(8\times4+4\times4+4\times8)=2(32+16+32)=2\times80=160\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
Q2. Hollow hemisphere mounted by a hollow cylinder; diameter 14 cm, total height 13 cm — inner surface area. $r=7$ cm. Cylinder height $=13-7=6$ cm. Inner SA $=2\pi r h+2\pi r^{2}=2\pi r(h+r)=2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times7\times(6+7)=44\times13=572\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
Q3. Cone on a hemisphere, both radius 3.5 cm, total height 15.5 cm — TSA. $r=3.5$ cm. Cone height $=15.5-3.5=12$ cm; $l=\sqrt{3.5^{2}+12^{2}}=\sqrt{12.25+144}=\sqrt{156.25}=12.5$ cm. TSA $=\pi r l+2\pi r^{2}=\dfrac{22}{7}\times3.5\times12.5+2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times3.5\times3.5=137.5+77=214.5\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
Q4. Cube of side 7 cm surmounted by a hemisphere — greatest diameter and surface area. Greatest diameter $=$ side $=7$ cm, so $r=3.5$ cm. Surface area $=6a^{2}-\pi r^{2}+2\pi r^{2}=6a^{2}+\pi r^{2}=6\times49+\dfrac{22}{7}\times3.5\times3.5=294+38.5=332.5\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
Q5. Hemispherical depression cut from one face of a cube, diameter $l$ = edge — surface area of remaining solid. $r=\dfrac{l}{2}$. SA $=6l^{2}-\pi r^{2}+2\pi r^{2}=6l^{2}+\pi r^{2}=6l^{2}+\pi\dfrac{l^{2}}{4}=\dfrac{l^{2}}{4}(24+\pi)$ square units.
Q6. Medicine capsule: cylinder with a hemisphere at each end; length 14 mm, diameter 5 mm — surface area. $r=2.5$ mm. Cylinder length $=14-2(2.5)=14-5=9$ mm. SA $=2\pi r h+2(2\pi r^{2})=2\pi r(h+2r)=2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times2.5\times(9+5)=\dfrac{110}{7}\times14=220\ \text{mm}^{2}$.
Q7. Tent: cylinder + conical top; cylinder height 2.1 m, diameter 4 m, slant height of cone 2.8 m — canvas area and cost at ₹500/m². $r=2$ m. Canvas $=$ CSA cylinder $+$ CSA cone $=2\pi r h+\pi r l=\pi r(2h+l)=\dfrac{22}{7}\times2\times(4.2+2.8)=\dfrac{44}{7}\times7=44\ \text{m}^{2}$. Cost $=44\times500=₹22000$.
Q8. Cone hollowed out of a cylinder, same height 2.4 cm and diameter 1.4 cm — TSA of remaining solid (nearest cm²). $r=0.7$ cm, $h=2.4$ cm; $l=\sqrt{0.7^{2}+2.4^{2}}=\sqrt{0.49+5.76}=\sqrt{6.25}=2.5$ cm. Remaining solid shows: CSA of cylinder $+$ one base of cylinder $+$ CSA of the conical cavity $=2\pi r h+\pi r^{2}+\pi r l=\pi r(2h+r+l)=\dfrac{22}{7}\times0.7\times(4.8+0.7+2.5)=2.2\times8.0=17.6\approx18\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
Q9. Hemisphere scooped from each end of a cylinder; height 10 cm, radius 3.5 cm — TSA of the article. $r=3.5$ cm. Visible: CSA of cylinder $+$ CSA of two hemispheres $=2\pi r h+2(2\pi r^{2})=2\pi r(h+2r)=2\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times3.5\times(10+7)=22\times17=374\ \text{cm}^{2}$.
9. NCERT Exercise 12.2 — fully solved
Unless stated otherwise, $\pi=\dfrac{22}{7}$.
Q1. Cone on a hemisphere, both radius 1 cm, cone height = radius — volume in terms of $\pi$. $r=1,\ h=1$. Volume $=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h+\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi(1)+\dfrac{2}{3}\pi(1)=\pi\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Q2. Cylinder with a cone at each end; diameter 3 cm, total length 12 cm, each cone height 2 cm — volume of air. $r=1.5$ cm. Cylinder length $=12-2(2)=8$ cm. Volume $=\pi r^{2}h_{\text{cyl}}+2\!\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h_{\text{cone}}\right)=\pi(1.5)^{2}\!\left(8+\dfrac{2\times2}{3}\right)=\dfrac{22}{7}\times2.25\times\dfrac{28}{3}\approx66\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Q3. 45 gulab jamuns (cylinder + two hemispherical ends), length 5 cm, diameter 2.8 cm; syrup ≈ 30% of volume. $r=1.4$ cm. Cylinder length $=5-2(1.4)=2.2$ cm. One jamun $=\pi r^{2}h+\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}=\dfrac{22}{7}(1.4)^{2}\!\left(2.2+\dfrac{4\times1.4}{3}\right)=\dfrac{22}{7}\times1.96\times\dfrac{12.2}{3}\approx25.05\ \text{cm}^{3}$. For 45: $\approx1127.3\ \text{cm}^{3}$. Syrup $=30\%\approx338\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Q4. Wood cuboid 15×10×3.5 cm with 4 conical depressions (radius 0.5 cm, depth 1.4 cm) — volume of wood. Cuboid $=15\times10\times3.5=525\ \text{cm}^{3}$. One cone $=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h=\dfrac{1}{3}\times\dfrac{22}{7}\times0.25\times1.4=\dfrac{11}{30}\approx0.3667\ \text{cm}^{3}$; four cones $=4\times0.3667=1.4667\ \text{cm}^{3}$. Wood $=525-1.4667\approx523.53\ \text{cm}^{3}$.
Q5. Inverted cone (height 8 cm, top radius 5 cm) full of water; lead spheres radius 0.5 cm dropped, ¼ of water flows out — number of shots. Cone volume $=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi\times25\times8=\dfrac{200\pi}{3}$. Water out $=\dfrac{1}{4}\times\dfrac{200\pi}{3}=\dfrac{50\pi}{3}$. One shot $=\dfrac{4}{3}\pi(0.5)^{3}=\dfrac{4}{3}\pi\times0.125=\dfrac{\pi}{6}$. Number $=\dfrac{50\pi/3}{\pi/6}=\dfrac{50}{3}\times6=100$ lead shots.
Q6. Iron pole: cylinder (height 220 cm, base diameter 24 cm) + cylinder (height 60 cm, radius 8 cm); mass at 8 g/cm³, $\pi=3.14$. Lower cylinder $r=12$: $\pi\times144\times220=99475.2\ \text{cm}^{3}$. Upper cylinder $r=8$: $\pi\times64\times60=12057.6\ \text{cm}^{3}$. Total volume $=111532.8\ \text{cm}^{3}$. Mass $=111532.8\times8=892262.4\ \text{g}\approx892.26\ \text{kg}$.
Q7. Cone (height 120 cm, radius 60 cm) on a hemisphere (radius 60 cm) placed in a cylinder (radius 60 cm, height 180 cm) full of water — volume of water left. Cylinder $=\pi r^{2}H=\pi\times3600\times180=648000\pi$. Solid $=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{2}h+\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi\times3600\times120+\dfrac{2}{3}\pi\times216000=144000\pi+144000\pi=288000\pi$. Water left $=648000\pi-288000\pi=360000\pi=360000\times\dfrac{22}{7}\approx1131428.6\ \text{cm}^{3}\approx1.131\ \text{m}^{3}$.
Q8. Spherical vessel with cylindrical neck (8 cm long, 2 cm diameter), spherical part diameter 8.5 cm; child claims volume 345 cm³, $\pi=3.14$. Neck: $r=1$, $\pi r^{2}h=3.14\times1\times8=25.12$. Sphere: $r=4.25$, $\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}=\dfrac{4}{3}\times3.14\times76.765625\approx321.39$. Total $=25.12+321.39=346.51\ \text{cm}^{3}$. The child's value 345 cm³ is not correct (correct value ≈ 346.51 cm³).
10. Common mistakes to avoid
- Adding full TSAs of the parts for a surface-area question — only the exposed (visible) surfaces count; joined faces vanish.
- Forgetting the slant height: CSA of a cone is $\pi r l$, not $\pi r h$. Always compute $l=\sqrt{r^{2}+h^{2}}$ first.
- Confusing diameter with radius — halve the diameter before substituting.
- Using TSA of a hemisphere ($3\pi r^{2}$) when only the curved dome ($2\pi r^{2}$) is exposed in a combination.
- For a combined-solid length like a capsule, subtract the hemispheres' radii to get the true cylinder length (e.g. cylinder $=$ total $-2r$).
- Forgetting to subtract the removed volume for a cavity/depression, or to add the exposed ring when bases differ.
- Mixing units (cm and m) in one calculation — convert everything first.
11. Quick revision checklist
- Identify the basic solids, their shared radius, and each height.
- Cone slant height $l=\sqrt{r^{2}+h^{2}}$ before any CSA of a cone.
- Surface area: add only exposed curved/flat areas; subtract a $\pi r^{2}$ wherever a flat face is hidden/replaced.
- Volume: add the parts; subtract for cavities. "Capacity" = volume held.
- Hemisphere: CSA $=2\pi r^{2}$, volume $=\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}$. Sphere: SA $=4\pi r^{2}$, volume $=\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}$.
- Convert all measurements to a single unit; report area in (unit)² and volume in (unit)³.
- $4\pi r^{2}$
- $3\pi r^{2}$
- $2\pi r^{2}$
- $\pi r^{2}$
- $12a^{2}$
- $10a^{2}$
- $8a^{2}$
- $6a^{2}$
- $r+h$
- $\sqrt{r^{2}+h^{2}}$
- $\sqrt{r^{2}-h^{2}}$
- $rh$
- $+2\pi r^{2}$
- $+\pi r^{2}$
- $+3\pi r^{2}$
- $-\pi r^{2}$
- $\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^{3}$
- $\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^{3}$
- $\dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^{3}$
- $4\pi r^{3}$
- $110\ \text{mm}^{2}$
- $220\ \text{mm}^{2}$
- $330\ \text{mm}^{2}$
- $440\ \text{mm}^{2}$
- sum of the volumes
- sum of the volumes minus the joined faces
- sum of the surface areas
- difference of the volumes
- $1:2:3$
- $3:1:2$
- $2:1:3$
- $1:3:2$
- $2\pi r^{2}$
- $3\pi r^{2}$
- $4\pi r^{2}$
- $\pi r^{2}$
- $6a^{2}$
- $6a^{2}-\dfrac{\pi a^{2}}{4}$
- $6a^{2}+\dfrac{\pi a^{2}}{2}$
- $6a^{2}+\dfrac{\pi a^{2}}{4}$
Book a free demo class