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Ignition Learning — Activity Sheet

Nets and views of 3D objects

Mathematics · Year 7

Name: ______________________Date: ____________

A net is a 2D shape that can be folded up to make a 3D object — like a flattened cardboard box. Different 3D objects have different nets: a cube's net is made of 6 squares, while a triangular prism's net includes 2 triangles and 3 rectangles. You can also represent a 3D object by drawing its views from different angles — the front view, side view and top view — which together show its full shape without needing a 3D drawing.

Example

A cereal box (a rectangular prism) can be unfolded into a net of 6 rectangles. Looking at it from the front shows a rectangle, from the top shows a rectangle, and from the side shows a rectangle too — but each view can have different dimensions.

Key terms

Net:
A 2D shape that folds up to form a 3D object.
Front/side/top view:
A 2D drawing of a 3D object seen from one particular direction.

Questions

  1. 1. A net is:

    • A fishing tool
    • A 2D shape that folds into a 3D object
    • A type of angle
    • A 3D object only
  2. 2. A cube's net is made of:

    • 4 squares
    • 6 squares
    • 8 squares
    • 6 triangles
  3. 3. A triangular prism's net includes:

    • Only triangles
    • 2 triangles and 3 rectangles
    • 6 rectangles
    • Only rectangles
  4. 4. The front view of an object shows it from:

    • Above
    • The front
    • The side
    • Underneath
  5. 5. The top view of an object shows it from:

    • The front
    • The side
    • Directly above
    • Behind
  6. 6. Representing a 3D object with 2D views mainly helps you:

    • Ignore its shape
    • Understand its shape without a 3D drawing
    • Make it heavier
    • Remove a dimension permanently
  7. 7. A cereal box is an example of a:

    • Cylinder
    • Rectangular prism
    • Sphere
    • Cone
  8. 8. How many faces does a cube have?

    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 8
  9. 9. How many rectangles are in the net of a rectangular prism?

    • 3
    • 4
    • 6
    • 8
  10. 10. A cylinder's net includes:

    • Only a rectangle
    • A rectangle and two circles
    • Only circles
    • A triangle and a square
  11. 11. Which 3D shape has a net made of one rectangle and two circles?

    • Cube
    • Cylinder
    • Cone
    • Sphere
  12. 12. The side view and front view of a shape can be:

    • Always identical
    • Different from each other
    • Impossible to draw
    • The same as the top view always
  13. 13. Folding a net correctly should result in:

    • A flat shape
    • A closed 3D object with no gaps
    • A random shape
    • A 2D drawing only
  14. 14. Which shape does NOT have a flat net that can be unfolded into flat 2D pieces easily?

    • Cube
    • Rectangular prism
    • Sphere
    • Triangular prism
  15. 15. A square-based pyramid's net includes:

    • 4 triangles and 1 square
    • 5 squares
    • 4 squares and 1 triangle
    • 6 triangles
  16. 16. If you only see the front and top views of an object, you might:

    • Know everything about its shape
    • Still be missing information about its depth from the side
    • Know its exact colour
    • Know its weight
  17. 17. Two different 3D objects could have:

    • Never have similar views
    • The same front view but different overall shapes
    • Identical volumes always
    • No relationship to nets
  18. 18. Why might engineers use front, side and top views instead of only a net?

    • Views show how an object looks from outside without needing to imagine folding
    • Views are always less accurate
    • Nets are illegal to use
    • Views remove the need for measurements
  19. 19. A net has 6 identical squares, all correctly connected. What 3D object will it fold into?

    • A cylinder
    • A cube
    • A cone
    • A sphere
  20. 20. Which is TRUE about the relationship between a 3D object and its net?

    • A single 3D object can only ever have one possible net layout
    • Some 3D objects can be represented by more than one valid net arrangement
    • Nets and views are unrelated concepts
    • All 3D objects have identical nets

Answer key (parent copy)

  1. 1. A 2D shape that folds into a 3D object
  2. 2. 6 squares
  3. 3. 2 triangles and 3 rectangles
  4. 4. The front
  5. 5. Directly above
  6. 6. Understand its shape without a 3D drawing
  7. 7. Rectangular prism
  8. 8. 6
  9. 9. 6
  10. 10. A rectangle and two circles
  11. 11. Cylinder
  12. 12. Different from each other
  13. 13. A closed 3D object with no gaps
  14. 14. Sphere
  15. 15. 4 triangles and 1 square
  16. 16. Still be missing information about its depth from the side
  17. 17. The same front view but different overall shapes
  18. 18. Views show how an object looks from outside without needing to imagine folding
  19. 19. A cube
  20. 20. Some 3D objects can be represented by more than one valid net arrangement