Cross Section Lesson

Cross Sections

What is a cross section?

a surface or shape that is or would be exposed by making a straight cut through something

Identifying the base and faces...

• On 3-D shapes, you have a base(s) and faces.

  • Pyramids & cones have 1 base.

  • Prisms & cylinders have 2 identical bases.

• The number of faces depends on the number of sides the base(s) have.

  • On all pyramids, the faces will always be triangles.

  • On all prisms, the faces will always be rectangles.

• On both a pyramid & a prism, the base is the first name of the shape:

"triangular" prism "square" pyramid

Multiple Choice

How many bases do pyramids have?

• 1

• 2

Multiple Choice

How many bases do prisms have?

• 1

• 2

Multiple Choice

What is the face shape of all pyramids?

• triangle

• circle

• rectangle

• octagon

Multiple Choice

What is the face shape of all prisms?

• triangle

• circle

• rectangle

• octagon

Multiple Choice

How many and what kind of faces does a square pyramid have?

• 4 square faces

• 4 triangle faces

• 3 triangle faces

• 3 square faces

Multiple Choice

How many and what kind of faces does a pentagonal pyramid have?

• 4 square faces

• 4 triangle faces

• 5 triangle faces

• 5 square faces

Multiple Choice

How many and what kind of faces does a triangular prism have?

• 3 rectangle faces

• 3 triangle faces

• 4 triangle faces

• 4 rectangle faces

Multiple Choice

What is the base shape of a triangular pyramid?

• triangle

• circle

• rectangle

• octagon

Multiple Choice

What is the base shape of a square prism?

• triangle

• square

• rectangle

• octagon

Multiple Choice

What is the base shape of a octagonal prism?

• triangle

• square

• rectangle

• octagon

Multiple Choice

What is the base shape of a square pyramid?

• triangle

• square

• rectangle

• octagon

Multiple Choice

What is the base shape of a cylinder?

• circle

• square

• rectangle

• octagon

If the cut is parallel to the base, the resulting cross section will be the same shape as the base.

The shapes to the right are all being cut parallel to the base.

Parallel to the Base

Direction of the Cross Section

If the cut is perpendicular to the base, the resulting cross section will be the same shape as the face.

The shapes to the left are all being cut perpendicular to the base(s).
This rules applies when the cut is from base to base or from apex to base.

Perpendicular to the Base

Direction of the Cross Section

Multiple Choice

Cutting a 3-D shape perpendicular to its base will result in the _____ shape.

• base

• face

Multiple Choice

Cutting a 3-D shape parallel to its base will result in the _____ shape.

• base

• face

Multiple Choice

What best describes the two-dimensional shape created when a cylinder is cut parallel to its bases?

• square

• rectangle

• circle

• triangle

Multiple Choice

What best describes the two-dimensional shape created when a triangular prism is cut parallel to its bases?

• square

• rectangle

• circle

• triangle

Multiple Choice

What best describes the two-dimensional shape created when a triangular prism is cut perpendicular to its bases?

• square

• rectangle

• circle

• triangle

Multiple Choice

What best describes the two-dimensional shape created when a square pyramid is cut parallel to its base?

• square

• rectangle

• circle

• triangle

Multiple Choice

What best describes the two-dimensional shape created when a square pyramid is cut perpendicular to its base?

• square

• rectangle

• circle

• triangle

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the two dimensional shape created when an octagonal pyramid is cut from its apex to its base (from top to bottom)?

• triangle

• circle

• octagon

• square

Multiple Choice

What's the name of this shape?

• cylinder

• cone

• tube

• Jessie

Multiple Choice

What's the name of this shape?

• cone

• cylinder

• sphere

• Michael

Multiple Choice

What shape is this?

• Cube
• Triangular Prism
• Rectangular Pyramid
• Sandy

Multiple Choice

Name the figure.

• Triangular Prism
• Bobby

• Triangular pyramid
• Square Pyramid

Multiple Choice

What shape will the horizontal cross-section of a sphere be?

• Dome
• Circle
• Ellipse
• Rectangle

Multiple Choice

What shape will the horizontal cross-section of a cone be?

• Dome
• Circle
• Pyramid
• Triangle

Multiple Choice

What shape will your get if you cut a cylinder perpendicular to its bases?

• Circle
• Triangle
• Rectangle
• Ellipse

Multiple Choice

What shape will the vertical cross section of a cube be?

• Square
• Triangle
• Trapezoid
• Circle

Multiple Choice

What shape does this cross section make?

• Rectangle
• Circle
• Triangle
• Square

Multiple Choice

Describe the cross section.

• triangle

• rectangle

• trapezoid

• square

Multiple Choice

What would result from slicing a rectangular pyramid perpendicular to the base?

• Circle
• Square
• Rectangle
• Triangle

Multiple Choice

What would result from slicing a rectangular pyramid parallel to the base?

• Circle
• Square
• Rectangle
• Triangle

Multiple Choice

A plane intersects a hexagonal prism. The plane is parallel to the base of the prism. Which two-dimensional figure is the cross section of the plane intersecting the prism?

• triangle

• trapezoid

• hexagon

• rectangle

Multiple Choice

Which figure can have the same cross section as a sphere?

Multiple Choice

Select the type of cross section formed when a triangular prism is cut perpendicular to its base.

• triangle

• rectangle

• pentagon

• trapezoid

Multiple Choice

A solid is cut by a plane that is perpendicular to its base, forming a two-dimensional cross section in the shape of a rectangle. Which of the following solids could have resulted in that cross section?

• rectangular pyramid

• sphere

• right hexagonal prism

• right cone