Spheres, cylinders and cones

  • Sponge Sections
    problem
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    Sponge Sections

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    You have been given three shapes made out of sponge: a sphere, a cylinder and a cone. Your challenge is to find out how to cut them to make different shapes for printing.

  • Which solid?
    problem
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    Which Solid?

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    This task develops spatial reasoning skills. By framing and asking questions a member of the team has to find out what mathematical object they have chosen.
  • Efficient cutting
    problem
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    Efficient Cutting

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Use a single sheet of A4 paper and make a cylinder having the greatest possible volume. The cylinder must be closed off by a circle at each end.

  • Cola can
    problem
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    Cola Can

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    An aluminium can contains 330 ml of cola. If the can's diameter is 6 cm what is the can's height?

  • problem
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    Immersion

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    Various solids are lowered into a beaker of water. How does the water level rise in each case?

  • Fill Me Up Too
    problem
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    Fill Me Up Too

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    In Fill Me Up we invited you to sketch graphs as vessels are filled with water. Can you work out the equations of the graphs?

  • problem
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    Funnel

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    A plastic funnel is used to pour liquids through narrow apertures. What shape funnel would use the least amount of plastic to manufacture for any specific volume ?

  • Conical Bottle
    problem

    Conical Bottle

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A right circular cone is filled with liquid to a depth of half its vertical height. The cone is inverted. How high up the vertical height of the cone will the liquid rise?
  • Mesh
    problem

    Mesh

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A spherical balloon lies inside a wire frame. How much do you need to deflate it to remove it from the frame if it remains a sphere?
  • There and back again
    problem

    There and Back Again

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Bilbo goes on an adventure, before arriving back home. Using the information given about his journey, can you work out where Bilbo lives?