Surface Area Definition
Surface Area of any figure is defined as the area of the faces of the figure. It is the total area of all the faces of the figure. Surface Area can be calculated for both 2-D figures and 3-D figures. For 3-D figures, we can have two types of Surface Areas, i.e. Lateral/Curved Surface Area, and Total Surface Area.
| Aspect | Lateral Surface Area (LSA) / Curved Surface Area (CSA) | Total Surface Area |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The area of the curved or side surfaces of a figure. | The area of all surfaces of the figure, including the top, base, and sides. |
| Also Known As | Curved Surface Area |
TSA |
| Formula (General Concept) | LSA = Area of Side Faces | Total Surface Area = LSA + Area of Top Surface + Area of Base Surface |
| Application | Used for objects with curved sides like cylinders, cones, etc. | Used for all 3D figures to determine the complete outer area. |
Surface Area Formulas
Surface Area Formulas are the formulas in mensuration that help us calculate the surface area of any 3D geometric shape. Surface area refers to space occupied by the three-dimensional shape. It is denoted by the sum of the individual surfaces of the sides of a three-dimensional figure. The surface area of 3-D figures is of two types, Lateral Surface Area/Curved Surface Area and Total Surface Area.
Let’s learn the Surface Area Formulas of various geometric figures.
Table of Content
- What is Surface Area?
- What are Surface Area Formulas?
- Types of Surface Area in 3-D
- Surface Area of Different Geometrical Figures
- Surface Area Formulas Table