Cross Sections of 3D Shapes Worksheets - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to fill in the missing 3D shapes based on their horizontal and vertical cross sections.

We are given:
- A 2D shape (the cross section)
- Whether it’s a horizontal or vertical slice
- We must draw/name the original 3D shape that would produce that cross section when sliced that way.

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Row 1: Cone

Already filled — cone gives triangle vertically, circle horizontally. ✔️

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Row 2: Cylinder

Given:
- Horizontal cross section → circle
- Vertical cross section → rectangle

What 3D shape? → Cylinder

✔️ Already labeled correctly.

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Row 3: Triangular Prism

Given:
- Horizontal cross section → triangle
- Vertical cross section → rectangle

Wait — let’s think:

If you slice a triangular prism horizontally (parallel to base), you get a triangle.

If you slice it vertically (perpendicular to base, along length), you get a rectangle.

So yes — this matches a triangular prism.

But wait — the diagram shows for horizontal slice: a triangle with lines inside? Actually, looking at the drawing, it's showing a triangular cross section from a horizontal cut — which implies the prism is lying on its rectangular face? Hmm.

Actually, standard orientation: if a triangular prism stands on its triangular base, then:

- Horizontal slice → triangle
- Vertical slice → rectangle

Yes — so the 3D shape is triangular prism.

✔️ Already labeled.

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Row 4: Rectangular Prism

Given:
- Horizontal cross section → rectangle
- Vertical cross section → rectangle

That makes sense — slicing a box (rectangular prism) either way gives rectangles.

✔️ Already labeled.

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Row 5: Square Pyramid

Given:
- Horizontal cross section → square (with diagonals? Actually, looks like a square with an X — maybe indicating perspective?)
- Vertical cross section → triangle

What 3D shape?

If you slice a square pyramid horizontally (parallel to base), you get a square (smaller than base).

If you slice it vertically through apex and center of base, you get a triangle.

Perfect match.

So the 3D shape is square pyramid.

✔️ Already labeled.

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Wait — actually, looking again at the table structure:

The columns are:

| 3D Shape | Horizontal Cross Section | 3D Shape | Vertical Cross Section | 3D Shape |
|----------|---------------------------|----------|-------------------------|----------|

Actually, re-examining the layout:

It seems each row has:

- First column: Name of 3D shape (given for some rows)
- Second column: Diagram of horizontal cross section + blank for 3D shape name?
Wait no — let me reinterpret.

Looking at first row:

Leftmost: “cone” written under a cone diagram.

Then next cell: horizontal cross section (circle with dot?) — but actually, in first row, second column shows a cone being sliced horizontally → resulting in a circle (drawn as ellipse with dashed line). Then third column says “cone” again? That doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps the table is structured as:

Each row corresponds to one type of cross-section scenario.

Actually, looking carefully:

Row 1:
- Left: Picture of cone + label “cone”
- Middle: Picture of cone sliced horizontally → result is circle → and below it, blank? No — actually, in the image, under the horizontal slice diagram, there’s nothing written — but above the whole column it says “Horizontal Cross Sections”

I think I misread initially.

Let me reconstruct the table logically.

The worksheet has 5 rows. Each row presents:

- In column 1: A 3D shape drawn, and sometimes named (like “cone”, “cylinder”, etc.)
- Column 2: Shows how that 3D shape is sliced horizontally, and what 2D shape results — and we’re supposed to write the name of the 3D shape? But it’s already drawn...

Wait — no. Looking again:

Actually, the instruction says:
“Draw and name the 3D shapes created on slicing each 3D figure horizontally and vertically.”

But the diagrams show:

For example, row 1:
- First cell: a cone (labeled “cone”)
- Second cell: a cone being sliced horizontally → produces a circle (diagram shown)
- Third cell: ??? It shows a different 3D shape — a pyramid-like thing? Wait no — third cell in row 1 shows a 3D shape that looks like a square pyramid? And fourth cell shows it being sliced vertically → producing a triangle.

Ah! Now I see.

Actually, the table is set up such that:

Each row has TWO separate problems:

Problem A (columns 1–2): Given a 3D shape (col1), show its horizontal cross section (col2) — and we may need to name the 3D shape? But it’s already named in col1 for some.

Wait — no. Let’s look at row 2:

Col1: cylinder (drawn and labeled)
Col2: cylinder sliced horizontally → circle
Col3: ??? draws a different 3D shape — looks like a rectangular prism standing upright?
Col4: that shape sliced vertically → rectangle
Col5: blank — we need to name that 3D shape.

Similarly, row 3:

Col1: triangular prism (drawn and labeled)
Col2: sliced horizontally → triangle
Col3: draws another 3D shape — looks like a triangular prism lying on its side? Or maybe a different orientation?
Col4: sliced vertically → rectangle
Col5: blank — name the 3D shape.

Wait — this is confusing.

Alternative interpretation:

Perhaps each row contains two independent scenarios:

Scenario 1 (cols 1–2): You’re given a 3D shape (col1), and you see its horizontal cross section (col2). The 3D shape is already named in col1 for rows 1–4, but not for row 5? No, row 5 col1 says “square pyramid”.

Actually, looking at the last row:

Col1: square pyramid (drawn and labeled)
Col2: sliced horizontally → square (with diagonals? Maybe just perspective)
Col3: draws a different 3D shape — looks like a tetrahedron or triangular pyramid?
Col4: sliced vertically → triangle
Col5: blank — we need to name that 3D shape.

So the pattern is:

In each row, there are TWO different 3D shapes being considered:

- One on the left (cols 1–2): already named, showing horizontal slice
- One on the right (cols 3–5): unnamed, showing vertical slice, and we must name the 3D shape in col5.

Yes! That makes sense.

So for each row, we ignore cols 1–2 (they’re examples or given), and focus on cols 3–5: we see a 3D shape drawn in col3, sliced vertically in col4, producing a 2D shape, and we must name the 3D shape in col5.

Let’s verify with row 1:

Col3: draws a square pyramid? Sliced vertically → triangle → so 3D shape should be “square pyramid” — but wait, in row 1, col5 is blank? Actually, in the image, row 1 col5 is empty — but according to our logic, it should be “square pyramid”.

But in row 1, col1 is “cone”, so maybe col3 is a different shape.

Looking at row 1 col3: it’s a 3D shape with a square base and triangular faces — that’s a square pyramid.

Sliced vertically through apex → triangle.

So col5 should be “square pyramid”.

But in the image, row 1 col5 is blank — so we need to fill it.

Similarly, row 2 col3: draws a rectangular prism (box) standing upright.

Sliced vertically → rectangle.

So 3D shape is “rectangular prism”.

Row 3 col3: draws a triangular prism lying on its rectangular face? When sliced vertically (along the length), you get a rectangle.

Yes — so 3D shape is “triangular prism”.

Row 4 col3: draws a cube or rectangular prism? Sliced vertically → rectangle → so “rectangular prism” or “cube” — but since it’s not specified, probably “rectangular prism”.

But wait — in row 4, col1 is already “rectangular prism”, so col3 might be something else? No, likely same.

Row 5 col3: draws a triangular pyramid (tetrahedron)? Sliced vertically → triangle.

So 3D shape is “triangular pyramid” or “tetrahedron”.

But let’s list them properly.

Actually, let’s go row by row for the right-hand side (cols 3–5):

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Row 1:
- Col3: 3D shape = square pyramid (square base, 4 triangular faces)
- Col4: vertical slice → triangle
- Col5: ? → square pyramid

Row 2:
- Col3: 3D shape = rectangular prism (standing tall)
- Col4: vertical slice → rectangle
- Col5: ? → rectangular prism

Row 3:
- Col3: 3D shape = triangular prism (lying on its side, so when sliced vertically along length, you get rectangle)
- Col4: vertical slice → rectangle
- Col5: ? → triangular prism

Row 4:
- Col3: 3D shape = rectangular prism (same as row 2? Or cube?)
- Col4: vertical slice → rectangle
- Col5: ? → rectangular prism (or cube, but since not specified, rectangular prism is safe)

But wait — in row 4, col1 is already “rectangular prism”, so perhaps col3 is meant to be different? Looking at the drawing: in row 4 col3, it’s a cube? With all sides equal? But still, vertical slice is rectangle — which is true for cube too.

However, typically in these worksheets, they use “rectangular prism” even for cubes unless specified.

But let’s check row 5.

Row 5:
- Col3: 3D shape = triangular pyramid (tetrahedron) — 4 triangular faces
- Col4: vertical slice → triangle
- Col5: ? → triangular pyramid

Now, comparing to left side:

Left side uses names like “cone”, “cylinder”, “triangular prism”, “rectangular prism”, “square pyramid”

So for consistency, right side should use similar terminology.

Thus:

Row 1 col5: square pyramid

Row 2 col5: rectangular prism

Row 3 col5: triangular prism

Row 4 col5: rectangular prism (or possibly “cube”, but “rectangular prism” is more general and matches left side)

Row 5 col5: triangular pyramid

But wait — in row 3, left side is “triangular prism”, and right side also appears to be triangular prism — that’s fine.

Similarly, row 4 left is “rectangular prism”, right is also rectangular prism — acceptable.

Now, is there any trick?

Look at row 3 col3: the 3D shape drawn — is it really a triangular prism? Yes, it has two triangular bases and three rectangular faces. When sliced vertically parallel to the length, you get a rectangle. Correct.

Row 5 col3: triangular pyramid — four triangular faces. Vertical slice through apex and base edge gives a triangle. Correct.

So final answers for col5 (rightmost column) per row:

Row 1: square pyramid
Row 2: rectangular prism
Row 3: triangular prism
Row 4: rectangular prism
Row 5: triangular pyramid

But let’s double-check row 4.

In row 4, col3: the 3D shape drawn — is it a cube? If it’s a cube, vertical slice is still a square (which is a rectangle), so “rectangular prism” is still correct, as cube is a special case.

To match the left side naming, “rectangular prism” is appropriate.

Similarly, row 2 col3: clearly a rectangular prism (not cube).

So all good.

Therefore, the missing names in the rightmost column (col5) are:

Row 1: square pyramid
Row 2: rectangular prism
Row 3: triangular prism
Row 4: rectangular prism
Row 5: triangular pyramid

But wait — in the original image, for row 1, col1 is “cone”, and col3 is a different shape — so yes, col5 is for the shape in col3.

Final confirmation:

We are to fill in the 3D shape name for the object shown in column 3 of each row, based on its vertical cross section shown in column 4.

All match as above.

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Final Answer:
Row 1: square pyramid
Row 2: rectangular prism
Row 3: triangular prism
Row 4: rectangular prism
Row 5: triangular pyramid