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LIC ADO Cylinder, Cone, Sphere

Study Material — 4 PYQs (2018–2020) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts

LIC ADO Cylinder, Cone, Sphere is a frequently tested subtopic — 4 previous year questions from 2018–2020 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.

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Previous Year Questions

LIC ADO Cylinder, Cone, Sphere — Past Exam Questions

4 questions from actual LIC ADO papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution

Exam Q 12020Previous Year Pattern

A solid sphere has a radius of 7 cm. What is the volume of the sphere? (Use π = 22/7)

Exam Q 22018Previous Year Pattern

A solid cylinder has radius 7 cm and height 20 cm. It is melted and recast into a solid cone of the same radius. What is the height of the cone?

Exam Q 32020Previous Year Pattern

A solid metallic sphere of radius 6 cm is melted and recast into a solid cone with base radius 4 cm. If the height of the cone is h cm, and a cylindrical hole of radius 2 cm and height h cm is drilled through the cone's axis, find the volume of the remaining solid (in cm³).

Exam Q 42018Previous Year Pattern

A solid cone and a solid sphere have the same radius. The height of the cone equals the diameter of the sphere. If the volume of the cone is 72π cm³, what is the volume of the sphere (in cm³)?

Concept Notes

Cylinder, Cone, Sphere— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic

Cylinder, Cone, and Sphere are the three most important 3D shapes in SSC CGL. These appear in 2-3 questions every year, making them high-scoring topics. Understanding their formulas and relationships is crucial for exam success. Core Concepts:

A Cylinder is like a circular tube - think of a water pipe or tin can. It has two circular ends and a curved surface. A Cone is like an ice cream cone - one circular base and comes to a point at the top.

A Sphere is a perfect ball - like a football or marble.

Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper

Block:

Cylinder: Volume = πr²h, Curved Surface Area = 2πrh, Total Surface Area = 2πr(r+h)
Cone: Volume = (1/3)πr²h, Curved Surface Area = πrl, Total Surface Area = πr(r+l), where l = √(r²+h²)
Sphere: Volume = (4/3)πr³, Surface Area = 4πr²
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

SSC CGL typically asks: volume calculations (40%), surface area problems (35%), and mixed problems involving two shapes (25%). Questions often involve finding radius, height, or comparing volumes.

ShortcutsUse these to save 30–60 seconds per question
Volume Ratio Trick

Cylinder:Cone:Sphere with same radius and height = 3:1:4 (when sphere diameter = cylinder height) 2

Quick Surface Area

For cylinder, if radius = height, then Total SA = 6πr² 3

Cone Slant Height

Use 3-4-5 triangle ratios when possible

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Volume = πr²h = (22/7) × 7² × 10 = (22/7) × 49 × 10 = 22 × 7 × 10 = 1540 m³

2
Step 2

Total SA = 2πr(r+h) = 2 × (22/7) × 7 × (7+10) = 44 × 17 = 748 m² Worked Example 2: A cone and sphere have the same radius 6cm. If cone's height is 8cm, find the ratio of their volumes.

1
Step 1

Cone volume = (1/3)πr²h = (1/3) × π × 6² × 8 = 96π cm³

2
Step 2

Sphere volume = (4/3)πr³ = (4/3) × π × 6³ = (4/3) × π × 216 = 288π cm³

3
Step 3

Ratio = 96π : 288π = 1:3 Most Common Trap: Students confuse slant height (l) with actual height (h) in cone problems. Remember: slant height is the distance from base edge to apex, while height is perpendicular distance from base to apex. Always check if the given measurement is l or h before applying formulas. Another frequent mistake is forgetting to use 'curved surface area' vs 'total surface area'. Read questions carefully - if a cylinder has open ends, use curved surface area only.

Key Points to Remember

  • Cylinder volume = πr²h, remember to multiply base area by height
  • Cone volume is exactly 1/3 of cylinder volume with same base and height
  • Sphere volume formula: (4/3)πr³ - memorize this fraction carefully
  • Cylinder total surface area = 2πr(r+h) - factor out 2πr for speed
  • Cone slant height l = √(r²+h²) using Pythagoras theorem
  • Sphere surface area = 4πr² - exactly 4 times the great circle area
  • Volume ratio shortcut: Cylinder:Cone:Sphere = 3:1:4 (same r and h)
  • For cylinder CSA problems, use 2πrh (curved surface only)
  • Cone total SA = πr(r+l) where l is slant height, not vertical height
  • Common trap: always distinguish between slant height and vertical height in cones

Exam-Specific Tips

  • Value of π in SSC calculations is typically 22/7 or 3.14
  • Volume of cone is always 1/3 times volume of cylinder with same base and height
  • Sphere has minimum surface area for given volume among all 3D shapes
  • Hemisphere volume = (2/3)πr³ and surface area = 3πr²
  • Cylinder with radius = height has total surface area = 6πr²
  • Cone with base radius = height has slant height = r√2
  • Volume of sphere inscribed in cube of side 'a' = (π/6)a³
  • Ratio of volumes of cube to inscribed sphere = 6:π
Practice MCQs

Cylinder, Cone, Sphere — Practice Questions

36graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 36

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Practice 1easy

A sphere has a surface area of 616 cm². What is its radius? (Use π = 22/7)

Practice 2easy

A cylinder has a volume of 1540 cm³ and a height of 10 cm. What is its radius (in cm)? [Use π = 22/7]

Practice 3easy

A sphere has a radius of 7 cm. What is its surface area (in cm²)?

Practice 4easy

A cone has a base radius of 7 cm and height of 6 cm. What is its volume? (Use π = 22/7)

Practice 5easy

A cylinder has a volume of 1540 cm³ and height of 10 cm. What is its radius? (Use π = 22/7)

Practice 6easy

The volume of a cone is 616 cm³ and its height is 12 cm. What is the radius of its base? (Use π = 22/7)

Practice 7easy

A cylinder has a total surface area of 462 cm² and radius 7 cm. What is its height?

Practice 8easy

A cylinder and a cone have the same base radius of 5 cm and the same height of 12 cm. What is the ratio of their volumes?

Practice 9easy

The total surface area of a sphere is 616 cm². What is its radius? (Use π = 22/7)

Practice 10easy

The volume of a sphere is 288π cm³. What is its radius?

Practice 11easy

The volume of a sphere is 288π cm³. What is its radius?

Practice 12medium

A sphere of radius 6 cm is melted and recast into a cylinder of radius 4 cm. What is the height of the cylinder (in cm)?

Practice 13medium

The curved surface area of a cone is 550 cm² and its slant height is 25 cm. Find the radius of the base of the cone.

Practice 14medium

The curved surface area of a cone is 550 cm² and its slant height is 25 cm. What is the radius of the base of the cone?

Practice 15medium

A solid cylinder has radius 7 cm and height 10 cm. A cone with the same radius and height is carved out from the top. What is the volume of the remaining solid (in cm³)?

Practice 16medium

A cone and a sphere have equal volumes. The cone has radius 6 cm and height 8 cm. What is the radius of the sphere (in cm)?

Practice 17medium

A cone has a base radius of 5 cm and height of 12 cm. If the slant height is increased by 20% while keeping the base radius constant, what is the percentage increase in curved surface area?

Practice 18medium

A solid cone has base radius 5 cm and height 12 cm. It is placed inside a cylinder of the same radius and height. What percentage of the cylinder's volume is NOT occupied by the cone?

Practice 19medium

A solid metallic sphere of radius 6 cm is melted and recast into a solid cone with base radius 4 cm. Find the height of the cone (in cm).

Practice 20medium

A cylinder has a radius of 7 cm and height of 10 cm. A cone with the same radius and height is placed inside it. What is the difference between their volumes (in cm³)?

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60-Second Revision — Cylinder, Cone, Sphere

  • Remember: Cone volume = (1/3) × Cylinder volume for same base and height
  • Formula check: Sphere SA = 4πr², Volume = (4/3)πr³
  • Trap: Distinguish cone's slant height (l) from vertical height (h)
  • Quick ratio: Cylinder:Cone:Sphere volumes = 3:1:4 (same dimensions)
  • Surface area: Cylinder = 2πr(r+h), Cone = πr(r+l), Sphere = 4πr²
  • Shortcut: Use π = 22/7 for calculations involving multiples of 7
  • Check question: Curved SA vs Total SA - open vs closed surfaces
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LIC ADO Cylinder, Cone, Sphere — Study Material, 4 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam