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2D and 3D Figures

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Introduction To 2D And 3D Figures

Geometry is a study of shapes. It is broadly classified into two types: plane geometry called 2d shapes and solid geometry called 3d shapes. Let us draw a picture of a notebook on a piece of paper. What we observe is a plain picture drawn on paper. It does not occupy any space called 2d shapes, but if we keep a real notebook on that piece of paper it occupies some space, and such shapes are called 3d shapes or three-dimensional shapes. 


Plane geometry or two-dimensional geometry deal with the flat figures that can be drawn on a piece of paper like line, curves, polygons, quadrilaterals, etc, while solid geometry or three-dimensional geometry deals with solid shapes or three-dimensional shapes. Examples of three-dimensional shapes are sphere, cylinders, cones, etc. 


What are 2D Shapes?

In geometry, a shape or a figure that has two dimensions namely a length and a breadth is called a 2D shape. In other words, a plane object that has only length and breadth is a 2 dimensional shape. Straight or curved lines make up the sides of this shape. Also, these figures can have any number of sides.


There are no fixed properties of the 2D shape. As each shape has a different number of sides and for each shape, properties vary. But, every 2D shape is flat and is enclosed.


Definition of 2D Shapes 

In geometry, 2D shapes can be defined as completely flat plane figures and only two dimensions - length and width. They are not thick and can only be measured in two dimensions. A polygon is a 2-Dimensional shape composed of vertical line segments connected to one another, thus giving it a closed shape. Circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles are some examples of two-dimensional objects and these shapes can be drawn on paper. Except for the circle which is a curved figure, all 2-D shapes have sides, corners, and internal angles. 2D Figures have at least three 2D straight sides and they are known as polygons and that includes triangles, squares, and quadrilaterals.


What are 3D Shapes?

The shapes that occupy space are called 3D shapes. 3D shapes can also be defined as the solid shapes having three dimensions length, width, and height. A football is an example of the sphere which is a three-dimensional figure while a circle drawn on a piece of paper is a two- dimensional figure. Similarly, we have many 3D shapes all around us like a table, chair, notebook, pen, etc.


Definition of 3D Shapes

3D shapes are solid objects or objects with three dimensions (length, width, and height), compared to objects with only two sides in length and width. The most important terms with the geometric shapes of 3D are faces, edges, and vertices. They have a depth so they take a certain amount of volume. Some 3D shapes have their base and top parts or cross sections such as 2D shapes. For instance, The cube has all the square-shaped sides. Now we will learn more about each 3D shape. 3D environments are divided into several categories. Some of them have curved areas; others are in the form of pyramids or prisms.


Terms Used For 3D Figures

  • Face. The face is a flat or curved area in 3D shape. For example a cube has six faces, a cylinder has three faces and a circle has one face.

  • Edges. Edge is the corner where two points meet .

  • Vertices. The vertex is where the edges meet.


Difference Between 2D and 3D Shapes: Tabular Form

Parameters


2D Figures 



3D Figures 


Abbreviation

The term 2D is denoted as two-dimensional.

The term 3D is denoted as three-dimensional.

Edges

2D figure, all edges are clearly visible

In the 3D figure, some edges are hidden.

Drawing on paper

It is easy to draw details with 2D Figures.

Details are complicated for 3d Figure.

Examples

A few examples of 2D shapes are rectangle, square, circle, triangle, or any other polygon.



A few examples of 3D shapes are cuboid, cube, sphere, cone, prism, cylinder, pyramid, etc.

Dimensions

Usually 2d figures have a total of two dimensions.

Usually 3d figures have multiple dimensions.

View

2D Figures give a simple view of the object.

A 3D figure gives a structural view of an object.

Axis

X and the Y-axes.

X, Y and the Z-axes


Solved Examples:

Example 1:

Find the volume and surface area of a cuboid of l= 10cm, b = 8cm and h = 6 cm.

Solution: 

We have Volume of cuboid = V = l x b x h 

= 10 x 8 x 6

= 480cm2

Surface area = 2 ( lb + lh + bh)

= 2( 10x8 + 10x6 + 8x6)

= 2(80 + 60 + 48)

= 376cm2


Example 2:

The length of the rectangular field is 15m and width is 6m. Find the area and perimeter of the field.

Solution:

Given that   Length = 15m

Width = 6m

We have,  Area formula A = length x width 

= 15 x 6 

= 90 m2

And Perimeter formula P = 2 (length + width) 

= 2 x (15 + 6) 

= 2 x 21

= 42 m.


Quiz Time

1.Find the area of the right-angled triangle whose base is 12cm and hypotenuse 13cm.

  1. 40 cm

  2. 85 cm

  3. 60 cm

  4.  30cm2


2. The side of a square whose surface area is 600cm is

  1. 10cm

  2. 20 cm

  3. 30 cm

  4. 40 cm


Fun Facts

  • 3D graphics are used in computers to make video games or animated movies. 

  • Some people consider time as a fourth dimension.

FAQs on 2D and 3D Figures

1.How do you explain 3D to a child?

All 3D shapes have three dimensions. So, unlike 2D shapes, you are not flat. 3D shapes are measured in length, width and depth.


2.What are the features of 3D?

All 3D shapes have faces, edges and vertices.


Face. The face is a flat or curved area in 3D shape. For instance the cube has six sides, a cylinder has three sides and a circle has one.


Edges. Edge is the corner where two points meet .


Vertices. The vertex is where the edges meet.


3.What is the meaning of 3D shape?

3D shapes are solid objects that combine 3 dimensions, namely - length, width, and height. As the name suggests 3D shape which means three-dimensional. All 3D Figures in geometry take up space based on their size and we can see many 3D environments around us in our daily lives.


4.What are 2D Figures?

2D figures refer to all those scenarios that we can place on flat paper or on any mathematical plane. The most common example of a 2D shape is the drawing of squares, triangles, and circles you make in childhood. Besides, 2D scenarios exist all over the world.


5.How many 2D shapes are there? Write down some of them.

Some of the most common 2D shapes are triangle, square, triangle, polygon, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, etc. However, there are innumerable instances from triangle to n-gon where n stands. number of sides.