How to Get the Volume of a Cone
Calculating the volume of a cone will tell you how much empty space it occupies. A cone consists of a circular base with sides that come to a point. The volume of a cone depends on its radius and height. Radius measures the distance from the center of the circular base to its edge. Measure height vertically and in a straight line from the base to the point of the cone. Common units for volume include cubic inches and cubic feet.
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Instructions
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Measure the height and circumference of the base of the cone in inches. Circumference measures the distance around the base of the cone. For example, the height might be 45 inches while the circumference is 15 inches.
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Divide the circumference by 2 times pi to obtain the radius in inches. Use 3.1416 for pi, and 2 times pi equals 6.2832. Continuing the example, you have 15 inches divided by 6.2832, or a radius of 2.3873 inches.
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Multiply pi times the square of the radius times the height and then divide by 3 to obtain the volume of the cone in cubic inches. Squaring a number means multiplying it by itself once. Performing this step leads to 3.1416 times 2.3873 inches times 2.3873 inches times 45 inches divided by 3, or a volume of 268.574 cubic inches.
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Tips & Warnings
To convert from cubic inches to cubic feet, divide by 1,728.
To convert from cubic feet to cubic inches, multiply by 1,728.
References
Resources
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