A circular cylinder is a 3-dimensional shape with two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface. The axis of the cylinder is the straight line connecting the centers of the two bases. When this axis is perpendicular to the bases, the cylinder is termed a 'right circular cylinder.'
Key Attributes
- Axis: the straight line between the centers of the two bases.
- Height (h): the distance between the bases, measured along the axis.
- Radius (r): the distance from the center to the edge of the circular base.
- Base Area: the area of one of the circular bases, calculated as \( A_{base} = \)\(\pi r^2 \)\).
These characteristics are essential in determining properties like the cylinder's volume, and they play a major role in practical applications such as calculating the capacity of tanks or the displacement in engines.