Geometry - Nets of Solids

In this lesson, we will learn

• What is meant by the net of a solid?
• Nets of the following solids: cube, rectangular prism or cuboid, triangular prisms, pyramids, cylinders and cones.

Nets of a Solid

A geometry net is a 2-dimensional shape that can be folded to form a 3-dimensional shape or a solid. Or a net is a pattern made when the surface of a three-dimensional figure is laid out flat showing each face of the figure. A solid may have different nets.

Below are the steps to determine whether a net forms a solid:

1. Make sure that the solid and the net have the same number of faces and that the shapes of the faces of the solid match the shapes of the corresponding faces in the net.

2. Visualise how the net is to be folded to form the solid and make sure that all the sides fit together properly.

Nets are helpful when we need to find the surface area of the solids.

Nets of a Cube and a Cuboid

A cube is a three-dimensional figure with six equal square faces.

There are altogether 11 possible nets for a cube as shown in the following figures.

A rectangular prism or cuboid is formed by folding a net as shown:

This video shows how to create different nets of a cube.

Nets of Prisms, Pyramids, Cylinders and Cones

Here are some examples of nets of solids: Prism, Pyramid, Cylinder and Cone

Mathsnet.net - Solid Geometry has applets showing how some shapes are made up from their nets.

This video shows how to identify the 3-dimensional shapes made by the nets. cube, rectangular prism or cuboid, triangular prism, and pyramid

This video introduces the various nets: Cuboids, Triangular Prisms, and Cylinders

This video shows how to use nets and 3-dimensional figures to find surface area of cubes and prisms.

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