Types of shapes: All you need to know about these shapes

Any shape’s boundaries or outline defined the form of an item. Moreover, it is the surface that we see, and it is independent of the size or colour of the item. Then, every object in our environment has a unique form, such as a square, rectangle, or three-dimensional sphere. Have you seen the globe, a replica of the Earth? What is the size and form of this globe? Have you ever observed what a pizza looks like? It has a circular form. When we cut a slice of pizza, it takes on a triangle form.

Types of shapes

Then, everything we observe in our surroundings has a form. Also, in the items we see around us, we may discover different fundamental forms such as the two-dimensional square, rectangle, and oval or the three-dimensional rectangular prism, cylinder, and sphere. Moreover, credit cards, banknotes and coins, finger rings, photo frames, dart boards, cottages, windows, magician’s wands, towering structures, flower pots, toy railways, and balloons are all examples of geometric forms. In this article, we are talking about these shapes. So, keep reading to know more about it.

Types of shapes in geometry

Moreover, shapes constitute an object’s boundaries in a variety of ways based on their attributes. Then, these forms are connected by a border formed by merging curves, points, and line segments. Moreover, depending on the structure, each form has a name. A few examples of shapes include circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and so on.

Also, we can divide shapes into several groups. Then, before further dividing forms into independent structures, the foundation of each shape is based on the following classification:

  • First, open forms are non-continuous shapes. It is made up of line segments or curves that do not intersect. The letter C represents an open form.
  • Then, closed shapes are those that can be traced without breaking. They begin and terminate in the same location. The letter D represents a closed form.

Furthermore, each form is categorised based on its dimensions. In this lesson, we’ll go through the two main sorts of shapes:

  • First, two-dimensional (2D) forms, as the name implies, contain just two of these dimensions, namely length and width.
  • Then, three-dimensional (3D) shapes: Three-dimensional (3D) forms have a length, a breadth, and a height. You may find out more about it here.

So, a square is a two-dimensional form, whereas a cube is a three-dimensional shape.

Types of shapes in maths

Moreover, we all know that forms are made up of straight or curved lines that can be open or closed. Then, lines are a grouping of points. In other terms, we can form a line by connecting multiple points. Then, they can create either a straight or a curved line. Also, forms are close shapes. Then, we can form it by connecting lines. Then, quadrilateral forms are closed shapes made up of four straight lines. Moreover, the following is a list of shapes with real-world instances.

Types of shapes Circle

Moreover, the circle is a closed shape. Then, it is classified as a two-dimensional geometric form with a circular shape. Then, it is devoid of any lines or corners. Also, for example, a vehicle’s steering wheel, a pizza base, or a dartboard.

Types of shapes Oval

Moreover, an oval, a slightly extended form that resembles a circle. Then, there are no straight lines or corners. As an example, consider the number zero (0).

Types of shapes Square

Moreover, a square is a closed two-dimensional shape with four sides. Each side measured to be the same length. Also, a chessboard and a carrom board are two examples.

Types of shapes Triangle

Also, a triangle is a three-sided form that is classified as a two-dimensional geometric shape. For example, one slice of cheese burst pizza in the shape of sour nachos.

Types of shapes

Types of shapes Rectangle

Moreover, a rectangle is a four-sided shape. Then, it is a two-dimensional geometric form with opposite sides of equal length. Then, for instance, laptop screens, touch screen mobile phones, and so forth.

Types of shapes Polygons

Moreover, a polygon is a two-dimensional closed shape made up of three or more straight lines. Then, for instance, windows and doors.

Types of shapes Cube

Moreover, a cube is a three-dimensional close geometric object. Then, a cube, composed of six squares. Then, it has six different faces. So, a rubik’s cube, for example, or a ludo dice or an ice cube.

Types of shapes Cuboid

Moreover, a cuboid is a three-dimensional shape made out of rectangles. Then, for instance, a duster, a book, or a pencil box.

Types of shapes Sphere

Moreover, a sphere is a solid form that looks like a ball. Moreover, a sphere, a three-dimensional closed shape with a circular base. Then, football, basketball, and other sports are examples.

Types of shapes Cylinder

Moreover, a cylinder is a solid shape with two flat ends that are round in shape. Then, it’s a three-dimensional figure made by folding a rectangle. Then, cold Drink cans, pool noodles, and water bottles are a few examples.

Types of shapes Cone

Moreover, a cone is a three-dimensional solid geometric form with a flat base. Then, the base has a round form. Then, it features a sharp top edge known as the apex. Also, for example, an ice cream cone, a clown hat, and so on.

Types of shapes 3d

Moreover, these are solid forms with three dimensions: length, width, and height. Here are a few examples:

Prism

Moreover, a prism is a solid object with two congruent and parallel faces. Then, the prism with rectangular bases is popular as a rectangular prism. Then, it has six faces, all of which meet at 90 degrees. Moreover, the sides of a rectangular prism are parallel. Then, a prism, like a cube, has six congruent faces. Then, a prism, sometimes known as a rectangular prism. The bases of a Triangular Prism are triangular. In this sort of prism, the bases are merely parallel. The Hexagonal Prism is a prism with hexagonal bases and parallel opposing sides.

Pyramid

A polyhedron having a polygon base and all lateral sides shaped as triangles. One of the most prevalent pyramid shapes is one with congruent lateral faces. They are sometimes popular as right pyramids. The form of the pyramid’s base is what gives it its name. A hexagonal pyramid, for example, has a hexagonal base.

Cylinder

Flat base and flat top with one curved side defined the cylinder’s form. The base, top, and in-between regions are all the same. When the central piece of a cylinder is unwrapped and laid flat, it forms a rectangle. It’s comparable to a prism in several ways. In contrast to prisms, its bases are circles rather than polygons.

Types of shapes

Cone

a curving form with a round or oval base that narrows towards a tip. A cone has a single vertex. A cone may be thought of as a pyramid with a circular cross section. The right cone is a cone whose vertex is located above the centre of its base.

Sphere

It is real symmetrical in the sense that it has no edges or vertices. The distance between any point on the source and the centre remains constant. The Earth’s form is nearly spherical. However, because it is not in the precise shape of a sphere, it is popular as a spheroid shape.

Types of shapes and their names

It is critical to have a strong vocabulary in any language. The more words you know and comprehend, the better your communication skills will be. Even if you don’t use the phrases frequently, knowing them helps you to follow along with a conversation, even if it’s a little out of your comfort zone. This lesson focuses especially on different sorts of shapes.

  • Nonagon
  • Octagon
  • Heptagon
  • Hexagon
  • Triangle
  • Scalene triangle
  • Right triangle
  • Parallelogram
  • Rhombus
  • Square
  • Pentagon
  • Circle
  • Oval
  • Heart
  • Cross
  • Arrow
  • Cube
  • Cylinder
  • Star
  • Crescent

Types of shapes in art

Observation is more important in representational drawing and painting than fundamental mark-making. In fact, learning to look and observe is critical to your development as an artist. Shapes play an important part in how we interpret what we see and preserve it in a drawing or painting.

Many of us start our drawings by sketching lines. We search for edges naturally and strive to depict them in our sketches. While this style of drawing is legitimate, it is slower and less precise. We can speed up our process and be more precise if we conceive of sketching in terms of shapes rather than lines.

We can train ourselves to view the world around us as forms. Recognizing the forms we perceive will result in more accurate sketches and paintings. Rather of thinking about items in terms of lines, we might consider them in terms of forms.

Examples

We can divide the chair into “easy to draw” rectangles and trapezoids. After drawing these fundamental forms with proportion in mind, the artist may focus on the contour lines (outlines). However, because the object’s structure is in situ, the contour lines are more accurate. Here’s a more illustration of how this works. A ketchup bottle, created using simple shapes in this example.

The chair and ketchup bottle seen above are both man-made things composed mostly of geometric forms. What about natural objects? When sketching organic objects with basic forms, the procedure is the same. Take a look at the hand sketch below. Take note of how simple forms merged to create this organic shape.

Here’s another example of how shapes may be used to create a drawing. A bird is drawn utilising simple forms in this scenario. The forms are gently sketched first, and then the contour lines are added with the shapes as a guide.

Types of shapes

This method of drawing with forms is popular as “construction”. Also it is regarded as a fundamental principle of drawing and painting. We can draw anything by arranging geometric and organic forms. When we separate fundamental geometric and organic shapes, even complex objects become simple to sketch.

Types of shapes chart

Names of  3D geometric shapes Definition
Cube A cube is a three-dimensional shape which has 6 faces, 8 vertices and 12 edges. The faces of the cube are square.

Example: A Rubik’s cube

Cuboid A cuboid is also three dimensional solid having 6 faces, 8 vertices and 12 edges but the faces of the cuboid are in a rectangular shape.

Example: Matchbox

Cone A cone is a solid which has a circular base and narrows smoothly from the surface to the top at a point called apex or vertex.

Example: An icecream cone

Cylinder A cylinder is a 3d solid shape that has two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface. It has no vertex.

Example: Gas cylinder

Sphere A sphere is a round shape in a 3d plane. Its radius is extendable to three dimensions (x-axis, y-axis and z-axis).

Example: Ball

Types of shapes examples

Example 1

Solve the riddles below and write down the names of the forms.

  1. a) I have three sides and a perfectly flat level surface. What exactly am I?
  2. b) I am a close three-dimensional object made up of six squares. What exactly am I?

Solution:

  1. a) A triangle is a flat two-dimensional shape with three sides.
  2. b) A cube is a closed three-dimensional form with six squares.

Example 2

Eva is carrying a gaming device. It has a four-sided screen. Can you tell me what the shape of the gadget screen is?

Eva has a gaming device with four sides, therefore she has a solution. It might be the screen of a mobile phone or a tablet. As a result, the shape of a device screen is rectangular.

Example 3

Identify two letters that are great examples of a closed and open form.

The letter O is an excellent example of a closed form. Because it has a circular form, it is also an example of a circle. The letter U is a rounded form. It’s open on the opposite side.

Types of shapes shapes and curves

Circumference, diameter, and radius are the three properties that define a circle. It is essentially a collection of all points that measure the same distance from a central point. The circumference of a circle represents the entire distance travelled around it. The diameter of a circle, the largest distance measured from one end to the other. Whereas the radius, the distance measured from the centre of the circle to any point on its perimeter.

Ellipse

An ellipse is a cross section shape. We can form it by cutting a cone or cylinder at an angle. Moreover, an ellipse is defined by two points known collectively as the focus. An ellipse is defined by two points known collectively as the focus. The total of distances from any location on the ellipse to the focal points remains constant. It resembles a flattened circle reduced to an oval shape. In this sense, a circle may be thought of as a form of ellipse with the same length major and minor axes and both foci in the centre.

Oval

This term refers to any closed egg shape or oblong curve with no points. This general phrase can also be applied to ellipses. It also accommodates regular and irregular egg-shaped curves.

Arch

The definition of an arch is a curving passage from one point of a circle to another. It may be thought of as a portion of a circle’s circumference. If an arc measures more than 180 degrees, it is referred to as a major arc; otherwise, it is referred to as a minor arch.

Lens

It is a biconvex form made up of two circular arcs that meet at their ends. A symmetric lens has arcs with equal radii, whereas an asymmetric lens has arcs with uneven radii. It is also popular as a convex-convex form.

Annulus

It is the shape of a ring generated when the smaller disc from the centre of a disc is removed. The term annulus came from the Latin word for “little ring.”

1 Dimensional

Line – Forms having simple lengths fall under the category of 1 dimensional shapes. The only 1 D shape is a line. It can be either a straight or wavy line. The word “one dimension” refers to length in this context.

2 Dimensional

Shapes having two dimensions (length and width) – A polygon is a flat 2D object with straight lines and no curves. A regular polygon is one that has all of its sides and angles the same, whereas an irregular polygon is one that does not. Here are a few examples:

Triangles

Triangles are shapes with three sides. There are many various sorts of triangles, such as the equilateral triangle, which has all sides that are the same length and three equal angles of 60 degrees.

Another sort of triangle with two equal sides and two equal angles is the isosceles. A scalene triangle is a triangle with no equal sides or angles. It also comprises a right angle triangle with one of its angles being a right angle or 90 degrees. An obtuse triangle is one in which one of the angles is larger than 90 degrees and the other two are less than 90 degrees. An acute triangle is one in which all of the angles are acute.

Read Also: Piaget vs Vygotsky | Similarities, Differences & Venn Diagrams

Quadrilaterals are tight figures with four sides. This is an organisation with a diverse membership. A quadrilateral having four equal sides and four right angles is known as a square. They also have four lines of symmetry. Another quadrilateral with two lines of symmetry is the rectangle. It also has four right angles. A quadrilateral with four equal sides is popular as a rhombus. In the case of a rhombus, both sets of opposing sides are also parallel. A parallelogram is defined as a quadrilateral with two parallel sides. Rectangles, rhombuses, and squares are all examples of parallelograms. A trapezium has one set of parallel sides with varying lengths.

Pentagon

Pentagon is a 5-sided polygon, hexagon is a 6-sided polygon, heptagon is a 7-sided polygon, and octagon is an 8-sided polygon. Similarly, a nonagon has 9 sides and a decagon has 10 sides.

Some frequently asked questions

What are the 2 types of shapes?

Open and closed forms are the two types of shapes. Closed geometric forms are further classified into two basic categories: two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional shapes.

What are the 4 most common shapes?

Squares, circles, triangles, and their derivatives, such as rectangles, ovals, and polygons, are the simplest and most ubiquitous forms of all.

What are the 6 most basic shapes?

Circles, triangles, rectangles, rhombuses, squares, and trapezoids are the fundamental geometric plane forms.

How do you identify shapes?

When recognising forms, students should pay attention to two factors: the number of sides and corners the shape has, as well as the length of the shape’s sides. Let’s look at some simple forms with these features in mind. Triangle’s three sides distinguished a triangle. Your youngster may observe that a triangle has three edges.

What are 2 and 3 dimensional shapes?

A two-dimensional (2D) form has only two dimensions: length and height. A 2D shape is something like a square, triangle, or circle. A three-dimensional (3D) form, on the other hand, has three dimensions: length, breadth, and height.

What are the 5 types of geometry?

Plane geometry (which deals with items like the point, line, circle, triangle, and polygon), solid geometry (which deals with objects like the line, sphere, and polyhedron), and spherical geometry are the most prevalent forms of geometry (dealing with objects like the spherical triangle and spherical polygon).

What are the simple shapes?

Simple shapes, classed as fundamental geometric objects such as a point, a line, a curve, a plane, a plane figure (such as a square or circle), or a solid figure (e.g. cube or sphere).

What are abstract shapes?

Abstract forms are the vast, fundamental shapes that serve as the foundation for almost any painting in any style. The fundamental abstract shapes in Still Life with Three Pears, for example, are the basic masses of the pears and the long, thin rectangle that defines the front edge of the table top.

What is a square shape?

In geometry, a square is a flat shape having four equal sides and four right (90°) angles. A square is a subset of a rectangle (an equilateral rectangle) and a subset of a parallelogram (an equilateral and equiangular one).

What is a Circle in real life?

Camera lenses, pizzas, tyres, Ferris wheels, rings, steering wheels, cakes, pies, buttons, and a satellite’s orbit around the Earth are all instances of circles in real life. Circles are just close curves. Circles are ellipses with a single constant radius around their centre.