# Calculate the Volume of a Sphere from Its Circumference

TR Smith is a teacher and creator who uses mathematics in her line of work every day.

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Sphere with labeled radius and circumference. Drawing by Calculus-Geometry

The formula for the volume of a sphere is traditionally given as a function of the radius. However, in practical applications, it is not always easy to determine the diameter or radius of a round object.

The circumference of a ball of sphere is much easier to measure. Simply wrap a measuring tape around the widest part of the sphere (the equator) and record the distance all the way around. Since the circumference and radius are related by a simple formula, you can then determine the radius of the spherical object, which allows you to calculate the volume. Here is the formula with some examples.

## The Equation for Volume in Terms of the Circumference

First let's recall the formulas for volume (v) of a sphere and its circumference (c) in terms of the radius (r). These geometric equations are

v = (4/3)πr3
c = 2πr

If you solve the second equation for r, you get

c/(2π) = r

Now plug this expression into the volume equation as a substitution for r, in other words, replace r with the expression c/(2π). This gives you the equation

v = (4/3)π[c/(2π)]3
= (4/3)π[c3/(8π3)]
= c3/(6π2)

In other words, the volume of a sphere is the circumference cubed divided by the number 6π2, which is approximately 59.2176.

## Example Calculation

Problem: Suppose an inflatable ball has a circumference of 60 cm. What is the volume of the ball in cubic centimeters (cc) and liters?

Solution: Since c = 60, we plug that value into the equation v = c3/(6π2) to find the volume. This gives us

v = 603/(6π2)
= 216000/59.2176
= 3647.5626 cc
= 3.648 liters

In practical terms, what this means is that if you deflate the ball with plans to reinflate it later, you will need to pump it up with about 3.648 liters of air.

## Another Example

Problem: Molly discovers that when the circumference of her ball increases by 2 inches, its volume increases by 100 cubic inches. What is the original circumference of the ball?

Solution: Let's say the original circumference is c and the original volume is v. This gives us the equation

v = c3/(6π2)

When c increase by 2, v increases by 100. This gives us the new equation

v + 100 = (c + 2)3/(6π2)

If we subtract the first equation from the second, we get a single equation that only involves the unknown variable c.

100 = (c + 2)3/(6π2) - c3/(6π2)

With a little algebra, we can simplify this seeming cubic equation into a quadratic

600π2 = 6c2 + 12c + 8

Finally, using the quadratic formula or a polynomial solver, we get c ≈ 30.41 inches. To double check that this solution is correct, let's compute the volume of a sphere with a circumference of 30.41 inches and 32.41 inches and verify that the volumes differ by about 100.

(30.41)3/59.2176 = 474.896
(32.41)3/59.2176 = 574.892

## Another Example

Problem: Jan wants to make some round polymer clay beads with a circumference of 3 cm. If she wants to make 150 such beads, how much clay does she need?

Solution: Each bead has a volume given by

v = (27)/(6π2)
= 0.455945 cm^3

Since she needs 150 of them the total volume of clay she needs is (150)(0.455945) = 68.3918 cm^3.

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• C0R1 3 years ago

Awesome! I like having a volume formula directly in terms of circumference instead solving for the radius, then plugging the radius into the usual volume formula. It's interesting that the circumference-to-volume formula has pi squared in the denominator, didn't expect that.

• Author

TR Smith 3 years ago from Germany

Thanks Cori, glad you found it useful.

• Tatsuki 3 years ago

It really helped me with my math homework!!! Thanks, you're a lifesaver!!!

• Author

TR Smith 3 years ago from Germany

You're welcome Tatsuki.

• rojelio melendez 3 years ago

This is great, thank you. Also, what is volume of a cylinder from its circumference?

• Author

TR Smith 3 years ago from Germany

To find the volume of a cylinder, you need more information than just its circumference. Cylinders of different heights may have the same circumference (and therefore, same radius), but they will have different volumes.

• meenah 3 years ago

• Jean in FL 3 years ago

Can you help me solve this problem? A tall cyindrical bucket has a diameter of 12 inches and is filled halfway with water. If you drop a solid ball in the bucket and the ball has a diameter of 7 inches, how many inches will the water level rise? I think this is a volume problem, but I'm not sure what to do with the cylinder.

• Author

TR Smith 3 years ago from Germany

Hi Jean, you're right that this is a volume problem, so the first thing you need to calculate is the volume of the sphere. Since it has a radius of 3.5 inches, its volume is (4*pi/3)r^3 = 179.59 cubic inches.

Now that you have that number, you can use it to figure out how much the water level will rise when you drop the ball in. The shape of the excess water column will be a cylinder since it is bounded by the walls of a cylindrical bucket. The radius of the excess water column will be 6 inches since the bucket's diameter is 12. And the volume of the water column will be equal to the volume of the ball, 179.59 inches.

Since the formula for the volume of a cylinder is (pi)hr^2, you can set up the equation

179.59 = (pi)h*6^2

for the volume of the excess water column. The only variable in this equation is h, the height. Solving for h gives you

h = 179.59/(pi*6^2)

h = 1.59 inches.

This means the water level rises by 1.59 inches.

• tixi 3 years ago

More practical to measure spherical volume this way!

• Loren Beech 9 months ago

Thanks! it helped a lot.

• phillip faulkenberry 2 months ago

how do i convert percentage of water column to a percentage of volume in a sphere?