
Area of Hollow Cylinder Formula Derivation and Solved Examples
A solid surface produced by a line moving parallel to a fixed line, while its end describes a closed figure in a plane is called a cylinder. A cylinder is the limiting case of a prism. This old-fashioned view is utilized in fundamental utilizations of geometry, yet the unpredictable numerical perspective has moved to the endless curvilinear surface and this is the manner by which a cylinder is currently all around characterized in a few present-day parts of geometry and topology. The shift in the straightforward meaning has created some uncertainty with terminology.
If a line is perpendicular to the base, the cylinder is called a Right cylinder, otherwise, it is called an oblique cylinder. The line joining the centers of the bases is called the axis of the cylinder. A hollow cylinder is a cylinder which is vacant from inside and has some difference between the internal and external radius.
Parts of a Cylinder:
Base and Side
A cylinder is a solid that is common to see in regular day to day existence, for example, a straw. In the event that you dismantle it, you discover it has two closures, called bases, that are normally roundabout. The bases are consistent and parallel to one another. If you somehow managed to 'unroll' the cylinder you would locate the side is really a rectangle shape when straightened out.
Height
The height h is the perpendicular distance between the 2 bases. It is important to use the perpendicular height ('altitude') when we calculate the volume of a slanted cylinder.
Radius
The radius r of a cylinder is the radius of the base. If you are given the diameter instead, remember to take half of it.
Axis
A line joining the center of each of the 2 bases.
Real Life Examples:
Tubes
Circular Buildings
Straws
Deducing the Formulae of Areas of a Hollow Cylinder:
If R is the outer radius of the cylinder and r is the inner radius of the cylinder, then
(i) Volume (the solid portion) = Volume of external cylinder-volume of internal cylinder
= \[\pi R^{2} h - \pi r^{2} h\]
= \[\pi (R^{2} - r^{2}) h\]
(ii) Lateral surface area = External surface area of a cylinder + Internal surface area of a cylinder
= \[2 \pi Rh + 2 \pi rh\]
= \[2 \pi h(R + r)\]
(iii) Total surface area = Lateral surface area + Areas of solid bases
= \[2 \pi h(R + r) + 2 \pi (R^{2} - r^{2})\]
Example 1:
Find the weight, lateral surface area and total surface area of a steel pipe whose interior and exterior diameters measure 15cm and 17cm respectively, and length 10m; one cubic cm of iron weighing 0.8gm.
Solution:
Here d = 15cm r = 7.5cm
D = 17 cm R = 8.5 cm
h = 10 m = 1000 cm
\[\text{Volume} = \pi (R^{2} - r^{2})h\]
= \[\pi (72.25 – 56.25)1000\]
= \[50265.48 cm^{3}\].
Weight = Volume x density = 50265.48 x 0.8 = 40212.39 gms
\[\text{Lateral surface area} = 2 \pi (R + r)h\]
= \[2 \pi (8.5 + 7.5)1000\]
= \[2 \pi \times 16 \times 1000\]
= \[100530.96 cm^{2}\].
\[\text{Total surface area of the pipe} = \text{Lateral surface area of pipe} + \text{Area of bases}\]
= \[100530.96 + 100.53\]
= \[100631.49 cm^{2}\].
Example 2:
A hollow cylinder copper pipe is 21dm long. Its outer diameter and inner diameter are 10cm and 6cm respectively. Find the volume of copper used in manufacturing the pipe.
Solution:
Given that:
\[\text{The height of the cylindrical pipe is h} = 21 dm = 210 cm\]
\[\text{Thus, External radius}, R = \frac{10}{2} = 5cm\]
\[\text{Internal radius}, r = \frac{6}{2} = 3 cm\]
The volume of the copper used in manufacturing the pipe
= \[\text{Volume of external cylinder} - \text{volume of an internal cylinder}\]
= \[\pi R^{2} h - \pi r^{2} h\]
= \[\pi (R^{2} - r^{2})h\]
= \[\frac{22}{7} [5^{2} - 3^{2}] \times 210 = \frac{22}{7} \times 16 \times 210\]
= \[22 \times 16 \times 30\]
= \[10560 cu.cm\]
Example 3:
The inner radius of a circular well is 2.1 m and its depth is 21 m. Find the cost of plastering the inner surface of a circular well at the rate of Rs. 40 per m².
Solution:
Given: Radius of the circular well (r) = 2.1 m, depth (h) = 21 m
Here we need to plaster the inner surface of the well which is the sum of Curved surface area and Area of the base.
\[\text{Area to be plastered} = \text{Curved surface area} + \text{Area of base}\]
= \[2 \pi rh + \pi r^{2}\]
= \[2 \times \frac{22}{7} \times 2.1 \times 21 + \frac{22}{7} \times (2.1)^{2}\]
= \[277.2 + 13.86\]
= \[291.06 m^{2}\]
\[\text{Cost of} 1 m^{2} \text{of well} = Rs. 40\]
Cost of 291.06 m2 of well = Rs. (40 × 291.06) = Rs. 11642.40
Test Sample:
Example:
The lateral surface area of a hollow tube is 4224 cm². Later on it has been cut along its height and formed a rectangular sheet of width 33 cm. Find the perimeter of a rectangular sheet?
(Answer=322cm.)
Example:
The total surface area of a hollow metal tube, open at both ends of external radius 8 cm and height 10 cm is 338π cm2. Taking r to be the inner radius, provide an equation in r and use it to state the thickness of the metal in the cylinder.
(Answer=3cm)
Example:
The total surface area of a hollow ceramic cylinder which is open from both the sides is 4620 sq. cm, the base ring area is 115.5 sq. cm and height 7 cm. Find the thickness of the ceramic cylinder.
(Answer=7/19cm)
Example:
Find the cost of plastering the inner surface of a well at the rate of Rs 30 per m2, if the inner diameter of the well is 2.8 m and its depth is 14 m.
(Answer= Rs 3880.80)
Example:
A hollow cylinder copper pipe is 21cm long. It's the outer diameter and the inner diameter is 10cm and 6cm respectively. Find the volume of copper used in manufacturing the pipe.
(Answer=340 cubic. cm)
FAQs on Understanding Area of a Hollow Cylinder
1. What is the area of a hollow cylinder?
The area of a hollow cylinder is the total surface area of a cylinder with inner and outer radii, calculated as 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²). Here, R is the outer radius, r is the inner radius, and h is the height.
- Curved Surface Area (CSA) = 2πh(R + r)
- Area of two circular ends = 2π(R² − r²)
- Total Surface Area (TSA) = 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²)
2. What is the formula for the total surface area of a hollow cylinder?
The formula for the total surface area of a hollow cylinder is TSA = 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²).
- R = outer radius
- r = inner radius
- h = height of the cylinder
3. How do you find the curved surface area of a hollow cylinder?
The curved surface area of a hollow cylinder is calculated using CSA = 2πh(R + r). This includes the curved outer and inner surfaces.
- Outer curved area = 2πRh
- Inner curved area = 2πrh
- Total CSA = 2πRh + 2πrh = 2πh(R + r)
4. How do you calculate the area of a hollow cylinder step by step?
To calculate the total surface area of a hollow cylinder, use the formula 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²) and substitute the values.
- Step 1: Identify R, r, and h.
- Step 2: Compute 2πh(R + r).
- Step 3: Compute 2π(R² − r²).
- Step 4: Add both results.
CSA = 2π×10×(5+3) = 160π
End areas = 2π(25−9) = 32π
TSA = 192π cm².
5. What is the difference between a solid cylinder and a hollow cylinder area?
The key difference is that a solid cylinder has one radius, while a hollow cylinder has both inner and outer radii.
- Solid cylinder TSA = 2πrh + 2πr²
- Hollow cylinder TSA = 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²)
6. Why is the area of the ends of a hollow cylinder 2π(R² − r²)?
The area of the ends is 2π(R² − r²) because each end is a circular ring formed by subtracting the inner circle from the outer circle.
- Area of outer circle = πR²
- Area of inner circle = πr²
- Area of one ring = π(R² − r²)
- For two ends = 2π(R² − r²)
7. Can you give an example of finding the curved surface area of a hollow cylinder?
Yes, the curved surface area is found using 2πh(R + r).
- Let R = 7 cm, r = 5 cm, h = 12 cm
- CSA = 2π × 12 × (7 + 5)
- CSA = 2π × 12 × 12 = 288π
8. What units are used for the area of a hollow cylinder?
The area of a hollow cylinder is measured in square units such as cm², m², or mm². Since area represents surface coverage, the units are always squared.
- If dimensions are in cm, area is in cm².
- If dimensions are in meters, area is in m².
9. What are common mistakes when finding the area of a hollow cylinder?
A common mistake is forgetting to include both inner and outer surfaces in the total surface area formula 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²).
- Using only outer radius instead of both R and r.
- Forgetting to subtract r² from R² for ring areas.
- Confusing curved surface area with total surface area.
- Not squaring the radius correctly.
10. Where is the area of a hollow cylinder used in real life?
The area of a hollow cylinder is used in real-life applications like pipes, tubes, and cylindrical shells.
- Calculating material needed for manufacturing pipes.
- Finding paint required to coat cylindrical tanks.
- Engineering and construction measurements.





















