Identifying Polyhedrons

Introduction to Geometric Solids

This lesson will help you to identify parts of geometric solids .

Vocabulary

L.E.A.R.N. I.T.

polygon

a planar (flat, 2-dimensional) figure formed by three or more segments called sides

polyhedron

a 3-dimensional geometric solid that is bounded by polygons;

the polygons are called faces and enclose a single region of space;

cones, cylinders and spheres are not polyhedrons

faces

(of a polyhedron)

the polygons that bind the polyhedron;

each rectangle in the picture is a face

edge

(of a polyhedron)

a segment formed by the intersection of two faces of the polyhedron

vertex

(of a polyhedron)

a point where three or more edges meet

cone

a 3-dimensional figure with one circular base and a curved lateral surface (face) that connects the base to a point called the apex;

the apex is a vertex that is not in the same plane as the base

apex

vertex opposite from the base of a geometric solid

geometric solid

a 3-dimensional figure;

has length, width, and height;

takes up space

pyramid

a polyhedron formed by one polygonal base and triangular lateral faces that meet a common vertex called the apex;

pyramids are named according to the shape of their bases

prism

a polyhedron formed by two parallel congruent polygonal bases connected by lateral faces that are parallelograms

parallelograms

a quadrilateral (four-sided figure) that has two pair of parallel sides

bases of a prism

two faces of the prism that are congruent and parallel;

bases do NOT have to be top and bottom, only parallel

lateral faces

(of a prism)

the faces of a prism that are not bases;

In a prism, bases must be congruent and parallel to each other.

There are only 2 bases in every prism.

lateral faces

(of a pyramid)

the faces of a pyramid that are not the base;

In a pyramid and cone, there is only one base. In the picture, the base is a rectangle (square).

sphere

a three-dimensional object in which every point on the surface is equidistant from the center;

a set of all points in space that are a given distance, r (radius), from a point called the center

cylinder

a geometric solid bounded by two circular bases and a curved surface that connects the two bases

bases

(of a cylinder)

the two congruent and parallel faces that are circles

(the bases are shaded while the lateral surface is not shaded)

cube

a polyhedron whose faces are all congruent squares

a base is a face....

but a face is not a base

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many vertices does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 0 or 1 depending on the source

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many vertices does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 1

• 2

• 4

• 6

Multiple Choice

How many bases does this solid have?

• 1

• 2

• 4

• 6

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 1

• 2

• 4

• 6

Multiple Choice

How many apices (plural form of apex) does this solid have?

• 1

• 2

• 4

• 6

Multiple Choice

How many bases does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many vertices does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many bases does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many bases does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many vertices does this solid have?

• 2

• 6

• 8

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many bases does this solid have?

• 2

• 5

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 2

• 5

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 2

• 5

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many vertices does this solid have?

• 2

• 5

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many bases does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 5

• 8

Multiple Choice

How many faces does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 5

• 8

Multiple Choice

How many edges does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 5

• 8

Multiple Choice

How many vertices does this solid have?

• 0

• 1

• 5

• 8