How to Calculate the Volume of a Sphere

A sphere is a three-dimensional solid with no base, no edge, one face and no vertex. A sphere is a round body with all points on its surface equidistant from the center. You measure the volume of a sphere in cubic units of measurement. To calculate the volume of a sphere, follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Sphere
• Calculator (if needed)
• Formula for volume of a sphere, V = (4)(Pi)(r)(r)(r)/3

Instructions

Visual Representation

1. Visualize a sphere as a vast number of pyramids whose bases rest on the exterior of the sphere and extend to the sphere's center. The radius of the sphere is equal to the height of each pyramid.

2. Calculate the volume of the sphere by adding all the volumes of all the pyramids.

3. Use the formula for the volume of a pyramid which is base (B) times height (h) divided by 3.

4. Add all the bases of the pyramids first. Next, multiply that answer by the height of one pyramid. The last step is to divide by 3.

Calculate the Volume

1. Measure the height of the pyramid by finding the radius (r) of the sphere.

2. Calculate the surface area (SA) of the sphere using this formula: SA = (4)(Pi)(r)(r).

3. Multiply the answer to Step 2 by (r).

4. Divide that answer by 3.

5. Write you answer in the proper cubic unit of measurement.