Plastic Factory A certain machine in a factory fills a spherical mold with plastic. If the diameter of the mold is 22.8 inches, how many cubic inches of plastic will it take to fill
the mold? Use 3.14 for .

To find the volume of the spherical mold, we use the formula for the volume of a sphere: . First, we need to determine the radius by dividing the diameter by 2. So, the radius is . Now, plug in the values:

So, it will take approximately 6216.14 cubic inches of plastic to fill the mold.

A fun fact about spheres is that they are the most efficient shape for enclosing space. This is why bubbles, planets, and even some seeds tend to form a spherical shape in nature! Whether it’s for packing efficiency or gravitational forces, the sphere reigns supreme.

In the world of manufacturing, knowing the volume of molds is essential for material calculations, helping to minimize waste and improve cost efficiency. For example, if a factory knows the volume of the mold, it can precisely calculate how much plastic to prepare, reducing overproduction and leading to savings in both material and time!