Cylinders and cones

Cylinders

A cylinder is a three dimensional shape which is made up of two identical and parallel circular bases joined by a curved surface. Look at the cylinder below. Notice it has one circle at the top, another circle at the bottom and a curved surface which joins the two circles.

This is the net of a cylinder. It is made up of two circles joined to a rectangle.

Some everyday objects are cylindrical (shaped like a cylinder). For instance, many cans are cylindrical.

This can of paint is shaped like a cylinder.

Cones

A cone is a three dimensional shape with a circular base that narrows to a point called the apex. Look at the image of the cone below.

If you cut open a cone from the apex to the bottom and along the edge of the base, you would get something like this.

Some everyday objects such as traffic cones and ice cream cones are conical (shaped like cones).