Nets for Geometric Solids
A net of a geometric solid is a two-dimensional (planar) figure that can be folded into a geometric solid. For example, we know that a cube has six sides. Each side of a cube is a square. So if we arrange six squares into a figure that can be folded into a cube, we have a net for a cube.
Here are a few examples of nets of cubes:
However, not every figure of six squares can be folded into a cube. Here
are some figures that are not nets of cubes:
Index of Nets
| Example | Name | Description | Printable Net |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Cube | A cube is a regular polyhedron made up of squares | net_cube.pdf |
| Cuboctahedron | Cuboctahedron | net_cuboctahedron.pdf |
| Dodecahedron | Dodecahedron | net_dodecahedron.pdf |
| Icosahedron | Icosahedron | net_icosahedron.pdf |
| Icosidodecahedron | Icosidodecahedron | net_icosidodecahedron.pdf |
| Octahedron | An Octahedron is an eight sided figure, with each side being an Isosceles triangle. | net_octahedron.pdf |
| 32 sided figure of pentagons and triangles | 32 sided figure of pentagons and triangles | net_pentagon_triangle_32.pdf |
| Pentagonal antiprism | A pentagonal antiprism is a 12 sided solid consisting of two pentagons connected by alternating triangles. | net_pentagonal_antiprism.pdf |
| Rectangular pyramid | A rectangular pyramid has a square base and triangles coming to a point. In this example, isoceles triangles are used. | net_rectangular_pyramid.pdf |
| Rhombidodecahedron | A rhombidodecahedron | net_small_rhombidodecahedron.pdf |
| Snub cube | A snub cube | net_snub_cube.pdf |
| Square antiprism | A square antiprism consists of two squares connected by alternating triangles. | net_square_antiprism.pdf |
| Square dipyramid | A square dipyramid | net_square_dipyramid.pdf |
| Tetrahedron | A tetrahedron | net_tetrahedron.pdf |
| Dodecahedron | A dodecahedron | net_trunc_dodecahedron.pdf |
| Truncated cube | A truncated cube is a cube whose corners have been truncated, or 'cut off'. Each side of the cube becomes a regular octahedron (an eight sided figure where the length of each side is the same), and the corners become isoceles triangles. | net_truncated_cube.pdf |