Back to Identify cross sections — Problem 2 · Task Set 36

Exercises: Identify Cross-Sections and Solids of Revolution

Grade 10·20 problems·~30 min·Common Core Math - HS Geometry·standard·hsg-gmd-b-4

Work through problems with immediate feedback

Fluency Practice

A sphere of radius $R$ is sliced by a plane at a distance $d$ from the center, where $0 < d < R$ . What shape is the cross-section, and how does its size compare to a cross-section through the center?

Circle; larger than the great circle (center cross-section)

Ellipse; smaller than the great circle, because the off-center cut is tilted

Circle; smaller than the great circle (center cross-section)

Circle; the same size as the great circle, because all cross-sections of a sphere are equal