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Cylinder, Cone and Sphere (Surface Area and Volume) — ICSE Class 10 Maths Important Questions

14 ICSE Class 10 Maths practice questions on Cylinder, Cone and Sphere (Surface Area and Volume), each with a full model answer, covering 6 topics from the chapter in the question formats used in the exam.

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Reviewed by Classmate AI Team · 30 September 2026

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Cylinder, Cone and Sphere (Surface Area and Volume) — ICSE Class 10 Maths Important Questions

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Quick answer

Typical ICSE Cylinder, Cone and Sphere questions use the volume and surface-area formulas (Vcyl=πr2hV_{\text{cyl}}=\pi r^2hV_cyl=π r^2h, Vcone=13πr2hV_{\text{cone}}=\tfrac13\pi r^2hV_cone=13π r^2h, Vsph=43πr3V_{\text{sph}}=\tfrac43\pi r^3V_sph=43π r^3), combinations of solids (cone on cylinder, hemisphere on cone), and melting/recasting where volume is conserved. Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227 unless told otherwise.

About Cylinder, Cone and Sphere (Surface Area and Volume)

In this ICSE Class 10 Maths chapter Cylinder, Cone and Sphere you compute curved and total surface areas and volumes of cylinders, cones, spheres and hemispheres, handle combinations of solids (such as a tent or a toy), and solve melting/recasting problems where the total volume stays constant. Answers must show full working with units, usually taking π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.

Surface area and volume of a cylinderSurface area and volume of a coneSurface area and volume of sphere and hemisphereCombinations of solidsMelting, recasting and conversion of solidsHollow cylinder (inner and outer surfaces, volume of metal)

Key concepts & formulas

Cylinder

Curved surface area =2πrh=2\pi rh=2π rh; total surface area =2πr(h+r)=2\pi r(h+r)=2π r(h+r); volume =πr2h=\pi r^2h=π r^2h.

Cone

Slant height l=r2+h2l=\sqrt{r^2+h^2}l=√r^2+h^2; curved surface area =πrl=\pi rl=π rl; total surface area =πr(l+r)=\pi r(l+r)=π r(l+r); volume =13πr2h=\tfrac13\pi r^2h=13π r^2h.

Sphere and hemisphere

Sphere: surface area =4πr2=4\pi r^2=4π r^2, volume =43πr3=\tfrac43\pi r^3=43π r^3. Hemisphere: curved surface =2πr2=2\pi r^2=2π r^2, total surface =3πr2=3\pi r^2=3π r^2, volume =23πr3=\tfrac23\pi r^3=23π r^3.

Melting and recasting

When a solid is melted and recast, its volume is unchanged: total volume before === total volume after. Number of items =volume of big solidvolume of one small solid=\dfrac{\text{volume of big solid}}{\text{volume of one small solid}}=volume of big solid/volume of one small solid.

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Important questions with answers

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Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)

Q1MCQEasy1 mark

The volume of a sphere of radius rrr is:

  1. (a)

    43πr2\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^24/3π r^2

  2. (b)

    43πr3\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^34/3π r^3

  3. (c)

    4πr34\pi r^34π r^3

  4. (d)

    23πr3\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^32/3π r^3

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Answer: (b) 43πr3\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^34/3π r^3.

The volume of a sphere is 43πr3\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^34/3π r^3; the option 23πr3\dfrac{2}{3}\pi r^32/3π r^3 is the volume of a hemisphere.

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Q2MCQEasy1 mark

The total surface area of a solid hemisphere of radius rrr is:

  1. (a)

    2πr22\pi r^22π r^2

  2. (b)

    3πr23\pi r^23π r^2

  3. (c)

    4πr24\pi r^24π r^2

  4. (d)

    πr2\pi r^2π r^2

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Answer: (b) 3πr23\pi r^23π r^2.

Total surface === curved surface +++ flat circular base =2πr2+πr2=3πr2=2\pi r^2+\pi r^2=3\pi r^2=2π r^2+π r^2=3π r^2.

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Q3MCQModerate1 mark

A cylinder and a cone have equal bases and equal heights. The ratio of the volume of the cylinder to that of the cone is:

  1. (a)

    1:31:31:3

  2. (b)

    3:13:13:1

  3. (c)

    1:11:11:1

  4. (d)

    2:12:12:1

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Answer: (b) 3:13:13:1.

Vcyl=πr2hV_{\text{cyl}}=\pi r^2hV_cyl=π r^2h and Vcone=13πr2hV_{\text{cone}}=\tfrac13\pi r^2hV_cone=13π r^2h, so the ratio is πr2h:13πr2h=3:1\pi r^2h:\tfrac13\pi r^2h=3:1π r^2h:13π r^2h=3:1.

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Q4MCQHOTS1 mark

A solid sphere of radius 3 cm3\,\text{cm}3\,cm is melted and recast into three spherical balls. Two of them have radii 1.5 cm1.5\,\text{cm}1.5\,cm and 2 cm2\,\text{cm}2\,cm. The radius of the third ball is:

  1. (a)

    1 cm1\,\text{cm}1\,cm

  2. (b)

    2.5 cm2.5\,\text{cm}2.5\,cm

  3. (c)

    1.5 cm1.5\,\text{cm}1.5\,cm

  4. (d)

    3 cm3\,\text{cm}3\,cm

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Answer: (b) 2.5 cm2.5\,\text{cm}2.5\,cm.

Volume is conserved, so r3=1.53+23+x3r^3=1.5^3+2^3+x^3r^3=1.5^3+2^3+x^3: 33=273^3=273^3=27, 1.53=3.3751.5^3=3.3751.5^3=3.375, 23=82^3=82^3=8. Thus x3=27−3.375−8=15.625x^3=27-3.375-8=15.625x^3=27-3.375-8=15.625, giving x=15.6253=2.5 cmx=\sqrt[3]{15.625}=2.5\,\text{cm}x=[3]15.625=2.5\,cm.

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Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)

Q5Assertion–ReasonModerate1 mark

Assertion (A): When a solid sphere of radius rrr is cut into two equal hemispheres, the total surface area increases by 2πr22\pi r^22π r^2.

Reason (R): The total surface area of a solid hemisphere of radius rrr is 3πr23\pi r^23π r^2.

  1. (a)

    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. (b)

    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. (c)

    A is true but R is false

  4. (d)

    A is false but R is true

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Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

The two hemispheres together have total surface area 2×3πr2=6πr22\times3\pi r^2=6\pi r^22×3π r^2=6π r^2, while the sphere had 4πr24\pi r^24π r^2. The increase is 6πr2−4πr2=2πr26\pi r^2-4\pi r^2=2\pi r^26π r^2-4π r^2=2π r^2 (the two new flat faces), which follows from R.

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Very short answer questions (2 marks)

Q6Very ShortEasy2 marks

Find the volume of a right circular cylinder of radius 7 cm7\,\text{cm}7\,cm and height 10 cm10\,\text{cm}10\,cm. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

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V=πr2h=227×72×10=227×49×10.V=\pi r^2h=\frac{22}{7}\times7^2\times10=\frac{22}{7}\times49\times10.V=π r^2h=22/7×7^2×10=22/7×49×10.
V=22×7×10=1540 cm3.V=22\times7\times10=1540\,\text{cm}^3.V=22×7×10=1540\,cm^3.

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Q7Very ShortEasy2 marks

A cone has base radius 5 cm5\,\text{cm}5\,cm and height 12 cm12\,\text{cm}12\,cm. Find its slant height and curved surface area. (Take π=3.14\pi=3.14π=3.14.)

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Slant height:
l=r2+h2=52+122=25+144=169=13 cm.l=\sqrt{r^2+h^2}=\sqrt{5^2+12^2}=\sqrt{25+144}=\sqrt{169}=13\,\text{cm}.l=√r^2+h^2=√5^2+12^2=√25+144=√169=13\,cm.

Curved surface area:
πrl=3.14×5×13=204.1 cm2.\pi rl=3.14\times5\times13=204.1\,\text{cm}^2.π rl=3.14×5×13=204.1\,cm^2.

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Short answer questions (3 marks)

Q8Short AnswerModerate3 marks

A metallic sphere of radius 10.5 cm10.5\,\text{cm}10.5\,cm is melted and recast into small right circular cones each of base radius 3.5 cm3.5\,\text{cm}3.5\,cm and height 3 cm3\,\text{cm}3\,cm. Find the number of cones formed.

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Volume is conserved: number of cones =volume of spherevolume of one cone=\dfrac{\text{volume of sphere}}{\text{volume of one cone}}=volume of sphere/volume of one cone.

Volume of sphere:
43πr3=43π(10.5)3=43π×1157.625=1543.5 π cm3.\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3=\frac{4}{3}\pi(10.5)^3=\frac{4}{3}\pi\times1157.625=1543.5\,\pi\ \text{cm}^3.4/3π r^3=4/3π(10.5)^3=4/3π×1157.625=1543.5\,π cm^3.

Volume of one cone:
13πR2h=13π(3.5)2(3)=13π×12.25×3=12.25 π cm3.\frac{1}{3}\pi R^2 h=\frac{1}{3}\pi(3.5)^2(3)=\frac{1}{3}\pi\times12.25\times3=12.25\,\pi\ \text{cm}^3.1/3π R^2 h=1/3π(3.5)^2(3)=1/3π×12.25×3=12.25\,π cm^3.

Number of cones:
1543.5 π12.25 π=126.\frac{1543.5\,\pi}{12.25\,\pi}=126.1543.5\,π/12.25\,π=126.

Hence 126126126 cones are formed.

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Q9Short AnswerModerate3 marks

A wooden toy is in the shape of a cone mounted on a hemisphere of the same radius 3.5 cm3.5\,\text{cm}3.5\,cm. The height of the cone is 12 cm12\,\text{cm}12\,cm. Find the total surface area of the toy. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

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Radius r=3.5 cmr=3.5\,\text{cm}r=3.5\,cm; cone height h=12 cmh=12\,\text{cm}h=12\,cm.

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

The total surface === curved surface of cone +++ curved surface of hemisphere (the flat faces join and are not exposed):
=πrl+2πr2=πr(l+2r)=227×3.5×(12.5+7).=\pi rl+2\pi r^2=\pi r(l+2r)=\frac{22}{7}\times3.5\times(12.5+7).=π rl+2π r^2=π r(l+2r)=22/7×3.5×(12.5+7).
=227×3.5×19.5=11×19.5=214.5 cm2.=\frac{22}{7}\times3.5\times19.5=11\times19.5=214.5\,\text{cm}^2.=22/7×3.5×19.5=11×19.5=214.5\,cm^2.

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Q10Short AnswerModerate3 marks

A solid is in the form of a cylinder with hemispherical ends. The total length of the solid is 104 cm104\,\text{cm}104\,cm and the radius of each hemispherical end is 7 cm7\,\text{cm}7\,cm. Find the total surface area of the solid. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

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Radius r=7 cmr=7\,\text{cm}r=7\,cm. Length of the cylindrical part:
h=104−2r=104−14=90 cm.h=104-2r=104-14=90\,\text{cm}.h=104-2r=104-14=90\,cm.

Total surface === curved surface of cylinder +++ curved surfaces of two hemispheres (which together make one sphere):
=2πrh+4πr2=2πr(h+2r).=2\pi rh+4\pi r^2=2\pi r(h+2r).=2π rh+4π r^2=2π r(h+2r).
=2×227×7×(90+14)=2×22×104=4576 cm2.=2\times\frac{22}{7}\times7\times(90+14)=2\times22\times104=4576\,\text{cm}^2.=2×22/7×7×(90+14)=2×22×104=4576\,cm^2.

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Q11Short AnswerModerate3 marks

A metal pipe is 21 cm21\,\text{cm}21\,cm long. Its external diameter is 8 cm8\,\text{cm}8\,cm and the metal is 1 cm1\,\text{cm}1\,cm thick. Find (a) the volume of metal in the pipe and (b) the total surface area of the pipe. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

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External radius R=4 cmR=4\,\text{cm}R=4\,cm, internal radius r=4−1=3 cmr=4-1=3\,\text{cm}r=4-1=3\,cm, length h=21 cmh=21\,\text{cm}h=21\,cm.

(a) Volume of metal:
π(R2−r2)h=227×(16−9)×21=227×7×21=462 cm3.\pi(R^2-r^2)h=\frac{22}{7}\times(16-9)\times21=\frac{22}{7}\times7\times21=462\,\text{cm}^3.π(R^2-r^2)h=22/7×(16-9)×21=22/7×7×21=462\,cm^3.

(b) Total surface area === outer curved surface +++ inner curved surface +++ the two ring-shaped ends:
2πRh+2πrh+2π(R2−r2)=2π(R+r)h+2π(R2−r2).2\pi Rh+2\pi rh+2\pi(R^2-r^2)=2\pi(R+r)h+2\pi(R^2-r^2).2π Rh+2π rh+2π(R^2-r^2)=2π(R+r)h+2π(R^2-r^2).
=2×227×7×21+2×227×7=924+44=968 cm2.=2\times\frac{22}{7}\times7\times21+2\times\frac{22}{7}\times7=924+44=968\,\text{cm}^2.=2×22/7×7×21+2×22/7×7=924+44=968\,cm^2.

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Long answer questions (5 marks)

Q12Long AnswerHOTS5 marks

A hollow spherical shell has external radius 5 cm5\,\text{cm}5\,cm and internal radius 3 cm3\,\text{cm}3\,cm. It is melted and recast into a solid right circular cone of base radius 7 cm7\,\text{cm}7\,cm. Find the height of the cone. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

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Volume of the hollow shell === volume of the recast cone (volume conserved).

Volume of shell:
43π(R3−r3)=43π(53−33)=43π(125−27)=43π×98=3923π cm3.\frac{4}{3}\pi(R^3-r^3)=\frac{4}{3}\pi(5^3-3^3)=\frac{4}{3}\pi(125-27)=\frac{4}{3}\pi\times98=\frac{392}{3}\pi\ \text{cm}^3.4/3π(R^3-r^3)=4/3π(5^3-3^3)=4/3π(125-27)=4/3π×98=392/3π cm^3.

Volume of cone with base radius 7 cm7\,\text{cm}7\,cm and height hhh:
13π(7)2h=493πh.\frac{1}{3}\pi(7)^2 h=\frac{49}{3}\pi h.1/3π(7)^2 h=49/3π h.

Equating the volumes:
493πh=3923π ⇒ 49h=392 ⇒ h=39249=8 cm.\frac{49}{3}\pi h=\frac{392}{3}\pi\ \Rightarrow\ 49h=392\ \Rightarrow\ h=\frac{392}{49}=8\,\text{cm}.49/3π h=392/3π 49h=392 h=392/49=8\,cm.

Hence the height of the cone is 8 cm8\,\text{cm}8\,cm.

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Q13Long AnswerModerate5 marks

The rainwater collected on a flat rectangular roof of dimensions 22 m×20 m22\,\text{m}\times20\,\text{m}22\,m×20\,m drains into a cylindrical vessel of internal diameter 2 m2\,\text{m}2\,m and height 3.5 m3.5\,\text{m}3.5\,m. If the vessel is just full, find the depth of rainfall on the roof in centimetres. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

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Let the depth of rainfall be ddd metres. The volume of rain on the roof equals the volume of water in the vessel.

Volume of water in the cylindrical vessel (radius =1 m=1\,\text{m}=1\,m, height 3.5 m3.5\,\text{m}3.5\,m):
πr2h=227×12×3.5=227×3.5=11 m3.\pi r^2h=\frac{22}{7}\times1^2\times3.5=\frac{22}{7}\times3.5=11\,\text{m}^3.π r^2h=22/7×1^2×3.5=22/7×3.5=11\,m^3.

Volume of rain on the roof:
22×20×d=440 d m3.22\times20\times d=440\,d\ \text{m}^3.22×20× d=440\,d m^3.

Equate:
440 d=11 ⇒ d=11440=0.025 m.440\,d=11\ \Rightarrow\ d=\frac{11}{440}=0.025\,\text{m}.440\,d=11 d=11/440=0.025\,m.

Convert to centimetres:
d=0.025×100=2.5 cm.d=0.025\times100=2.5\,\text{cm}.d=0.025×100=2.5\,cm.

Hence the rainfall depth is 2.5 cm2.5\,\text{cm}2.5\,cm.

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Case-based questions (4 marks)

Q14Case-basedModerate4 marks

A tent is in the shape of a cylinder surmounted by a cone. The cylindrical part has radius 7 m7\,\text{m}7\,m and height 4 m4\,\text{m}4\,m, and the conical top has the same radius and a vertical height of 24 m24\,\text{m}24\,m. Canvas costs Rs 505050 per square metre. (Take π=227\pi=\tfrac{22}{7}π=227.)

ICSE Class 10 Maths — Cylinder, Cone and Sphere (Surface Area and Volume): A tent is in the shape of a cylinder surmounted by a cone. The cylindrical part has radius 7\,\text{m} an

(i) Find the slant height of the conical top.

(ii) Find the area of canvas required for the tent (curved surfaces only).

(iii) Find the total cost of the canvas.

(iv) Find the volume of air enclosed by the tent.

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(i) Slant height of cone:
l=r2+hc2=72+242=49+576=625=25 m.l=\sqrt{r^2+h_c^2}=\sqrt{7^2+24^2}=\sqrt{49+576}=\sqrt{625}=25\,\text{m}.l=√r^2+h_c^2=√7^2+24^2=√49+576=√625=25\,m.

(ii) Canvas === curved surface of cylinder +++ curved surface of cone:
2πrh+πrl=227×7 (2×4+25)=22×(8+25)=22×33=726 m2.2\pi rh+\pi rl=\frac{22}{7}\times7\,(2\times4+25)=22\times(8+25)=22\times33=726\,\text{m}^2.2π rh+π rl=22/7×7\,(2×4+25)=22×(8+25)=22×33=726\,m^2.

(iii) Cost =726×50=Rs 36,300.=726\times50=\text{Rs }36{,}300.=726×50=Rs 36,300.

(iv) Volume of air === volume of cylinder +++ volume of cone:
πr2hcyl+13πr2hc=227×49(4+243)=22×7×(4+8)=154×12=1848 m3.\pi r^2h_{\text{cyl}}+\frac{1}{3}\pi r^2h_c=\frac{22}{7}\times49\left(4+\frac{24}{3}\right)=22\times7\times(4+8)=154\times12=1848\,\text{m}^3.π r^2h_cyl+1/3π r^2h_c=22/7×49(4+24/3)=22×7×(4+8)=154×12=1848\,m^3.

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  • Do these Cylinder, Cone and Sphere (Surface Area and Volume) questions follow the latest ICSE syllabus?
    Yes — they are aligned to the CISCE 2026–27 syllabus for ICSE Class 10 Maths, so nothing here is outside the current course.

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