Surface area of solids is measured by calculating total area they occupy. It also depends on the shape of the given object. This surface area calculator takes in the necessary values and calculates the surface area for objects having different shapes.
Let's take a look at different shapes and how their surface area is calculated.
Sphere
A sphere's surface area is calculated with the following equation:
SA = 4πr2
where r is radius
This surface area calculator requires you to enter radius of the sphere only and select the appropriate unit from the given list. Just hit the calculate button and you will get the answer right there.
Cone
Surface area for circular cones is calculated by adding surface areas of all the individual components. Among the components, there is base SA that is actually the circle which comprises base in the closed circular shapes, then there is lateral SA which represents all the rest of cone's area between its apex and base. The equations given below can be used effectively for the calculation of each of these components and also the total surface area of the closed circular cones.
base SA = πr2
lateral SA = pi;r√r2 + h2
total SA = πr(r + √r2 + h2)
where r is radius and h is height
You have to enter the base radius and the height along with appropriate units in this calculator for calculating the cone surface area. The calculator also shows you the base SA and lateral SA as well.
Cube
Cube's surface area is calculated by adding total areas of the 6 square faces it has. Here is the equation for calculating SA.
SA = 6a2
where a is the edge length
This surface area calculator only requires you to enter the edge length and select an appropriate unit to perform the calculation. Hit the calculate button and the result will be right there.
Cylindrical Tank
In order to calculate surface area of closed cylinder, you have to sum total areas for lateral and the base. Here are the equations that have to be used.
base SA = 2πr2
lateral SA = 2πrh
total SA = 2πr(r + h) where r is the radius and h is the height
This calculator requires you to enter the base radius and the height of the cylindrical tank for calculating its surface area. Make sure that you select units appropriately.
Capsule
You can determine capsule's surface area by simply combining the equations for sphere SA and cylinder's lateral SA. Remember not to include SA of cylinder's base as it is not the part of capsule. Here is the equation to perform the calculation.
SA = 4πr2 + 2πrh
where r is the radius and h is the height
Here again, you have to enter base radius and the height of the capsule to calculate its SA. Both base and lateral surface areas are also shown separately as well.
Rectangular Tank
This surface area calculator can also help you in finding the surface area for rectangular tanks as well. It is obtained by adding area of all the faces. The following equation is used for the calculation.
SA = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh
where l is length, w is width, and h is height
The calculator here requires you to enter all the three values i.e. height, width and length as well as select appropriate unit for each.
Conical Frustum
Surface area of conical frustum is calculated by adding areas of both of its circular ends as well as the lateral face. Here are the equations for calculating conical frustum SA.
circular end SA = π(r2 + r2)
lateral SA = π(R+r)√(R-r)2 + h2
total SA = π(r2 + r2) + π(R+r)√(R-r)2 + h2
where R and r are radii of the ends, h is height
Just enter the top and bottom radii in the calculator and the calculations will be performed to give you both the surface areas involved and the total surface area as well.
Square Pyramid
Square Pyramid's surface area consists of the areas of the square base as well as all the triangular faces. When you know the height as well as the edge length, use following equations to perform the calculations:
base SA = a2
lateral SA = 2a√(a/2)2 + h2
total SA = a2 + 2a√(a/2)2 + h2
The surface area calculator here requires you to enter the base radius and height to perform the calculations.
Ellipsoid
There's probably no exact and simple formula for calculating the Ellipsoid surface area. This surface area calculator uses approximate formula which assumes the shape of almost spherical ellipsoid. Here it is
SA ≈ 4π 1.6√(a1.6b1.6 + a1.6c1.6 + b1.6c1.6)/3
where a, b, and c are the axes of the ellipse
You have to enter the values of three axis and select appropriate units for calculating the surface area using this calculator.