Select a solid from the choices on the left. Then choose a vertical, horizontal, or angled plane. Drag the slider to move the plane through the solid. The cross-section is displayed in the box on the right.
Learning objectives
The student will identify the shapes of two-dimensional cross-sections of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres.
The student will compare and contrast vertical, horizontal, and angled cross-sections of three-dimensional figures.
Real world application
When engineers are designing a structure to be built, they have to make sure that all of the pieces fit together correctly. In order to do this, they must consider the two-dimensional cross-sections of three-dimensional objects and arrange the objects so that their cross-sections fit together.