Cross sections

Print this lesson

Share lesson:

Share this lesson:

Copy the link to this lesson

Copy link

Google Classroom

Facebook

Twitter

A cross section is the shape that you see when you cut straight through a three-dimensional figure.

For example, look at the potato below. If you slice the potato in half, the shape that you would see is an oval. That oval is a cross section.

Same figure, different cross sections

A cross section is created when a plane intersects a three-dimensional figure. A plane can intersect a figure in different directions, resulting in different cross sections.

For example, look at the cylinder below.

A plane could intersect the cylinder horizontally, resulting in a circular cross section.

A plane could intersect the cylinder vertically, resulting in a rectangular cross section.

A plane could intersect the cylinder diagonally, resulting in an oval cross section.

Find cross sections

Let's try it! Determine the shape of the cross section of the triangular prism.

Think about the shape that would show after the figure is split.

The cross section is a triangle!

Another example

Determine the shape of the cross section of the square pyramid.

Think about the shape that would show after the figure is split.

The cross section is a square!

One more example

Determine the shape of the cross section of the cube.

Think about the shape that would show after the figure is split.

The cross section is a hexagon!

Try some practice problems!

Cross sections of three-dimensional figures

Skills

Cross sections of three-dimensional figures

Videos

Cross sections of three-dimensional figures

Same figure, different cross sections

Find cross sections

Another example

One more example

Try some practice problems!

Related

Skills

Videos