Volume as the disk radius, the volume of the sphere can be calculated as Now Combining yields formula_15 This formula can be derived more quickly using the formula for the sphere's surface area, which is formula_16. The volume of the sphere consists of layers of infinitesimally thin spherical shells, and the sphere volume is equal to The cone is a type of pyramidal shape. The fundamental equation for pyramids, one-third times base times altitude, applies to cones as well. However, using calculus, the volume of a cone is the integral of an infinite number of infinitesimally thin circular disks of thickness
Surface-area-to-volume ratio requires changing to a less compact shape. Materials with high surface area to volume ratio (e.g. very small diameter, very porous, or otherwise not compact) react at much faster rates than monolithic materials, because more surface is available to react. Examples include grain dust; while grain isn't typically flammable, grain dust is explosive. Finely ground salt dissolves much more quickly than coarse salt. High surface area to volume ratio provides a strong "driving force" to speed up thermodynamic processes that minimize free energy. The ratio between the surface area and volume of cells and organisms has an enormous impact on