The Volume of an Oblate Spheroid equation (v = 4/3 π•b²•c) computes the volume of an oblate spheroid based on the semi-major(b) and semi- minor (c) axis with the assumption that the spheroid is generated via rotation around the minor axis (see diagram). 
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (b) - semi-major axis, the distance from the oblate spheroid's center along the longest axis of the spheroid
- (c) - semi-minor axis, the distance from the oblate spheroid's center along the shortest axis of the spheroid
Oblate Spheroid Volume (V): The volume is returned in cubic meters. However, this can be automatically converted to other volume units (e.g. cubic yards, liters) via the pull-down menu.
Ellipsoid Calculator
- Ellipsoid - Volume computes the volume of an ellipsoid based on the length of the three semi-axes (a, b, c)
- Ellipsoid - Surface Area computes the surface area of an ellipsoid based on the length of the three semi-axes (a, b, c)
- Ellipsoid - Mass or Weight computes the mass or weight of an ellipsoid based on the length of the three semi-axes (a, b, c) and the mean density.
- Oblate Spheroid - Volume computes the volume of an Oblate Spheroid based on the length of the two semi-axes (b, c)
- Oblate Spheroid- Surface Area computes the surface area of an Oblate Spheroid based on the length of the two semi-axes (b, c)
- Oblate Spheroid- Mass or Weight computes the mass or weight of an Oblate Spheroid based on the length of the two semi-axes (b, c) and the mean density.
- Sphere - Volume computes the volume of a sphere based on the length of the radius (a)
- Sphere - Surface Area computes the surface area of a sphere based on the length of the radius (a)
- Sphere - Mass or Weight computes the mass or weight of a sphere based on the length of the radius (a) and the mean density.
The Math / Science
The formula for the volume of an oblate spheroid is:
v = 4/3 π•b²•c
where:
- V is the volume of the oblate-spheroid
- b is the length of the semi-axis rotated
- c is the length of the semi-axis of rotation
The oblate spheroid is an ellipsoid that can be formed by rotating an ellipse about its minor axis. The rotational axis thus formed will appear to be the oblate spheroid's polar axis. The oblate spheroid is fully described then by its semi-major and semi-minor axes.
One important shape in nature that is close to (though not exactly) an oblate spheroid is the Earth which has a semi-minor axis (c) which is the polar radius of 6,356 kilometers, and a semi-major axis (b) which is the equatorial radius of 6,378 kilometers. Consideration: what force would make the equatorial radius larger than the polar radius?
Volume Calculators
- Volume of a Cube
- Volume of a Box
- Volume of a Cone
- Volume of a Cone Frustum
- Volume of a Cylinder
- Volume of a Slanted Cylinder
- Volume of a Triangular - 3 sided column
- Volume of a Quadrilateral - 4 sided column
- Volume of a Pentagon - 5 sided regular column
- Volume of a Hexagon - 6 sided regular column
- Volume of a Heptagon - 7 sided regular column
- Volume of a Octagon - 8 sided regular column
- Volume of a Nonagon - 9 sided regular column
- Volume of a Decagon - 10 sided regular column
- Volume of a Hendecagon - 11 sided regular column
- Volume of a Dodecagon - 12 sided regular column
- Volume of a Paraboloid
- Volume of a Polygon based Pyramid
- Volume of a Pyramid Frustum
- Volume of a Sphere
- Volume of a Oblate Spheroid
- Volume of a Ellipsoid
- Volume of a Torus
- Volume of a Bottle
- Volume of a Chamfer