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What Is The Difference Between Circle and Sphere, Important Terminology, Examples

Difference Between Circle and Sphere : A circle is considered a 2D representation, while a sphere is a 3D object with volume. You can only determine the surface of a circle, whereas there is a way to determine the volume of a sphere.
authorImageShrivastav 5 Jan, 2024
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Difference Between Circle and Sphere

Difference Between Circle and Sphere : A circle is a two-dimensional figure, whereas a sphere is a three-dimensional object. There is more difference between a circle and a sphere. They are both geometric shapes, which have some similarities and differences that separate them. Read the article to know some major difference between circle and sphere .

What is a Circle?

A circle is a round, two-dimensional figure that is defined by a set of points that are at the same distance from the given point. All the points are at a fixed distance from the exact location on a similar plane.

difference between circle and sphere

The distance from the centre of a circle to any point on the circumference of a circle is called the radius. The longest chord that passes through the centre is called the diameter. The diameter of a circle is two times the radius of the circle.
Important Information About Circle
Dimension 2 Dimensional shape
Diameter of circle 2* radius
Circumference of circle 2* π*radius
Area of circle π*radius 2
The perimeter of the circle 2* π*radius
Equation of circle (x−a) 2 +(y−b) 2 = r 2

Important Terminologies of Circle

  • A circle is a 2 dimensional geometrical figure with the same plan.
  • The diameter of circle is the largest chord passing through the centre of the circle.
  • Radius is the distance from the centre of circle to any point touching the circumference of the circle.
  • The diameter is twice the radius of circle.
  • A circle does not have volume.
  • A chord in a circle is a line segment joining two endpoints on the circle.
  • The tangent of circle which touches the circle at a single point.

What Is A Sphere?

What Is A Sphere? : A sphere is a three-dimensional geometric shape similar to a circle. The only major difference is that the circle is in the 2D plane and the sphere is in the 3D plane. It is defined as the locus of all the points in 3D. They are at an equal distance from a fixed point called the centre. The diameter is a line that passes through the centre of the sphere and touches both points of the sphere.

Important Information About Sphere
Dimension 3 Dimensional shape
Diameter of sphere 2* radius
Surface area of a sphere 4*π*radius*radius
Volume of sphere 4/3* π*radius 3
Equation of sphere (x−h) 2 +(y−k) 2 +(z−l) 2 =r 2

Important Terminologies of Sphere

  • Sphere is a three dimensional geometrical shape. It is a 3d representation of a circle.
  • The surface area of a sphere is given by A= 4*π*r 2 , where r is the radius of the circle and A is the surface area.
  • The volume of the sphere is given by V= 4/3*π*r 3 , where V is the volume of sphere.
  • A sphere do not have a circumference.
  • The volume of hemisphere half the volume of sphere.

Difference Between Circle and Sphere

Difference Between Circle and Sphere : Check the major difference between a circle and a sphere in the table given below.
Difference Between Circle and Sphere
Circle Sphere
A circle is geometric shape with two dimensions. A sphere is a three dimension geometric shape.
The area of circle is given by πr 2 The surface area of a sphere is given by 4 πR 2
A circle does not have volume as it is a two dimensional figure. The volume of a sphere is given by V= 4/3*π*r 3 , where V is the volume of sphere.
The circumference of a circle is given by 2* π*radius There is no circumference in a circle.
Equation of a circle is given by (x−a) 2 +(y−b) 2 = r 2 Equation of a sphere is given by (x−h) 2 +(y−k) 2 +(z−l) 2 =r 2

Solved Examples  Related Circle and Sphere

Q1. Calculate the area of a circle whose radius is 4cm. Solution: The area of circle is given by πr 2 , where r is the radius of circle. A = πr 2 , where A is the area of circle. A = 3.14*4*4 = 50.24 cm 2 The area of circle is 50.24 cm 2 Q2. Calculate the circumference of a circle whose diameter is 10cm. Solution: The circumference of a circle is given by 2πr, where r is the radius of circle. Radius of circle = diameter/2 = 10/2 = 5cm. Circumference of circle = 2*3.14*5 = 31.4cm Q3. Calculate the volume of a sphere, whose radius 2cm. Solution: The volume of a sphere is given below. V= 4/3*π*r 3 , where V is the volume of sphere and r is the radius. Now, we know the radius of circle, r = 2cm. V = 4/3*3.14*2*2*2 = 33.49 cm 3

Difference Between Circle and Sphere FAQs

Q1. What is a circle?

Ans: A circle is a round, two-dimensional figure that is defined by a set of points that are at the same distance from the given point.

Q2. What is a sphere?

Ans: A sphere is a three dimension geometric shape.

Q3. What is the major difference between circle and sphere?

Ans: A sphere is a three-dimensional geometric shape similar to a circle. The only major difference is that the circle is in the 2D plane, and the sphere is in the 3D plane.

Q4. What is the surface area of a circle?

Ans: The surface area of a circle is πr2 , where r is the radius of circle.

Q5. What is the equation of a sphere?

Ans: The equation of a sphere is given by (x−h)2+(y−k)2+(z−l)2=r2
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