Sphere Volume Calculator

Calculate sphere volume, surface area, and other properties from radius, diameter, circumference, or volume

Calculate Sphere Properties

cm

Distance from center to surface

Sphere Properties

Enter a value to calculate sphere properties
Choose an input method and enter a positive value

Real-World Examples

FIFA Soccer Ball (Size 5)

Radius: ~4.4 inches
Volume: ~357 cubic inches
Circumference: ~27.6 inches
Official FIFA regulation size for professional soccer

Basketball (Size 7)

Circumference: ~29.5 inches
Radius: ~4.7 inches
Volume: ~433.5 cubic inches
Standard size for professional basketball

Earth

Mean Radius: ~6.37 × 10⁶ meters
Volume: ~1.08 × 10²¹ cubic meters
Approximate values for our planet

Ping Pong Ball

Diameter: ~40 mm
Radius: ~20 mm
Volume: ~33.5 cubic cm
Standard table tennis ball size

Sphere Formulas

Volume

V = (4/3) × π × r³
r = radius

Surface Area

A = 4 × π × r²
r = radius

From Diameter

V = (π/6) × d³
d = diameter

From Volume

r = ∛(3V/4π)
V = volume

Sphere Properties

Perfect Symmetry

All points on surface equidistant from center

Maximum Volume

Largest volume for given surface area

No Edges or Vertices

Smooth curved surface everywhere

Constant Curvature

Same curvature at every point

Quick Conversions

Radius ↔ Diameter
d = 2r | r = d/2
Radius ↔ Circumference
C = 2πr | r = C/(2π)
Volume ↔ Radius
V = (4/3)πr³ | r = ∛(3V/4π)

Understanding Sphere Volume

What is a Sphere?

A sphere is a perfectly round three-dimensional geometric object. Every point on its surface is exactly the same distance from its center. This distance is called the radius. A sphere is the 3D analog of a circle in 2D space.

Volume Formula Derivation

The sphere volume formula V = (4/3)πr³ can be derived using calculus by integrating circular cross-sections. As you move from the bottom to the top of a sphere, each horizontal slice is a circle with varying radius, and integrating these gives the total volume.

Practical Applications

  • Engineering: Tank and container design
  • Medicine: Calculating medication dosages in spherical pills
  • Sports: Ball specifications and regulations
  • Astronomy: Planetary and stellar volume calculations
  • Architecture: Dome and spherical structure design

Spherical Cap Applications:

Useful for calculating partial volumes in tanks, domes, and spherical containers that are not completely full.

Key Mathematical Relationships

Volume to Surface Area

V/A = r/3

Ratio depends only on radius

Hemisphere

V = (2/3)πr³

Half of sphere volume

Scaling

If r × k, then V × k³

Volume scales with cube of radius