A hemisphere is a three-dimensional solid figure in geometry that is exactly half the size of the sphere.
It is possible to say that if we divide a sphere into two equal parts, we will get two hemispheres due to the division. It is possible to compare this three-dimensional figure to a half watermelon, a half lemon, and other similar fruits.
The Hemisphere has two surfaces: a curved one and one that is flat. The flat surface has a circular shape, and we can call it the circular foundation.
What is a Hemisphere?
A hemisphere is a 3D geometric figure that is exactly half the size of a sphere. It has flat and curved surfaces on both the inside and outside. As a result, a hemisphere is a precise half of a sphere in shape. As a result, two identical hemispheres form a sphere.
Among the many excellent examples of the Hemisphere is the planet earth. We can divide each Hemisphere of the earth into two parts: the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere.
For the most part, the term “hemisphere” refers to half of the planet, like the northern or southern hemispheres. The term “hemisphere” is used in geometry to refer to a 3D figure formed by cutting a round object half lengthwise, with the flat side facing outward.
We can find Hemispheres in a wide variety of real-world objects, such as cherry halves and grapefruit halves, both of which we can cut in half to yield halves of the fruit.
An interesting fact about the prefix hemi- is that it means “half” in Greek. Another interesting fact about the prefix is that the word “sphere” means “perfectly round” in Greek. So, what exactly does the term “hemisphere” denote here?
One of the flat, circular sides of the Hemisphere, also known as the face, makes it a three-dimensional shape.
What are the types of Hemispheres?
The classification of Hemispheres is very simple as they are only two types of Hemispheres, they are:
1. Solid Hemisphere
A solid hemisphere is a three-dimensional object that takes the shape of the exact half of a sphere. We fill it with the material that composes it. It is also known as a solid sphere. As an example, half a lemon would suffice.
2. Hollow Hemisphere
A hollow hemisphere is a three-dimensional object defined only by its outer circular bowl boundary and does not contain any substance.
An example of a hollow hemisphere would be an exact half of a coconut shell, probably a sphere-shaped bottle cap, and an arched dome-type structure would be certain examples of such hemispheres.
What are the Characteristics of a Hemisphere?
There are several characteristics of a hemisphere, including the following:
A Hemisphere is the exact half of a sphere, hence having a lot of characteristics in common with one another.
With just one curved surface, it is possible to make a hemisphere.
A Hemisphere has no edges or vertices.
A hemisphere has a circular base with a flat bottom called a flat face.
The curved face and the flat face meet at the only curved edge of a Hemisphere.
Lines intersecting at the centre and opposite ends of the base of the Hemisphere are its diameters.
It is not a polyhedron because polygons make up polyhedrons, unlike this case.
What are the Examples of Hemispheres in Daily Life Situations?
There are several day-to-day examples of hemispheres that we see and observe daily. Some of them are:
One of the best examples of a Hemisphere is
A soup bowl
The majority of the bowls are hemispheres in shape. You can see the hemisphere geometric shape in everyday life by looking at the bowl in your kitchen’s utensil area.
Earcups of a headphone
A headphone’s ear cups are an excellent example of a hemispherical object. The curved and flat surfaces are easy to see if you look straight at the earbuds.
An Igloo
Igloo is a well-known real-world example of a hemispherical object. The igloo’s top forms the curved face of the Hemisphere, while the base or the ground forms the flat face.
Mushroom
You will notice that the mushroom’s cap has a curved top and a flat bottom. As a result, a mushroom is a classic example of a hemisphere shape that we observe daily.
Conclusion
A Hemisphere is one of the most common and prominent geometric figures. We can see its influence in almost all the figures present. The characteristic features of a Hemisphere are similar to that of a sphere but are unique, making it pertinent in Geometry.
A Hemisphere is used and observed in several daily life situations in various forms; this article mentions particular examples of Hemisphere.
