The idea, step by step
Look beyond the outline
A solid takes up space. A flat face is a flat surface you could place against paper. An edge is where faces meet; a vertex is a corner.
A drawing shows only part of a solid. A cube has six square faces even when three are hidden from view.
Some surfaces are curved
A cylinder has two flat circular faces and a curved surface between them. A sphere has one curved surface and no flat face.
Use more than one clue. A cube and a rectangular box have flat faces, but every face of a cube is an equal square.
A common trap
Counting only the faces visible in one drawing.
Instead: Imagine turning the object over to find hidden faces.
See the thinking
Cube faces
How many flat faces does a cube have?
- Imagine the top, bottom, front, back, left and right faces.
- Count all six, including the hidden ones.
A ball
A ball is shaped like a sphere. Does it have a flat face?
- Imagine turning the ball around.
- Its surface curves all the way around.
Check your understanding
Which solid has two circular flat faces and a curved surface?
Show answer
A cylinder
The ends are flat circles and the side curves around.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Name a solid with six equal square faces.
- How many flat faces does a sphere have?
- How many flat circular faces does a cylinder have?
- Name a real object shaped approximately like a cylinder.
- A drawing shows three cube faces. Does the cube have only three faces? Explain.
- Give one shape difference between a cube and a sphere.
Read the worked solutions
- Name a solid with six equal square faces.
All six faces of a cube are equal squares.
Cube - How many flat faces does a sphere have?
Its surface is curved everywhere.
0 - How many flat circular faces does a cylinder have?
One is at each end.
2 - Name a real object shaped approximately like a cylinder.
A tin has circular ends and a curved side.
Example: a food tin. - A drawing shows three cube faces. Does the cube have only three faces? Explain.
Count the top, bottom and four side faces.
No. It has six faces; three are hidden from this view. - Give one shape difference between a cube and a sphere.
Describe a shape feature rather than a colour or size.
A cube has flat square faces and corners; a sphere has a curved surface and no corners.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum
Solid-object features; comparing/classifying objects; turns; smaller/larger than a right angle.
Official curriculum source ↗