neliöpyramideja

A square pyramid is a three-dimensional geometric shape with a square base and four triangular faces that meet at a point called the apex. The base is a polygon with four equal sides and four right angles. Each of the four triangular faces has a common vertex at the apex. The edges connecting the apex to the vertices of the base are called lateral edges. The faces are isosceles triangles if the pyramid is a right square pyramid, meaning the apex is directly above the center of the base. If the apex is not centered, the pyramid is oblique.

The volume of a square pyramid can be calculated using the formula V = (1/3) * b^2 * h, where 'b' is the length of a side of the square base and 'h' is the height of the pyramid (the perpendicular distance from the apex to the base). The surface area of a square pyramid is the sum of the area of the square base and the areas of the four triangular faces. The area of the base is simply b^2. The area of each triangular face is (1/2) * b * s, where 's' is the slant height of the pyramid (the height of each triangular face). Therefore, the total surface area is A = b^2 + 4 * (1/2) * b * s = b^2 + 2bs.

Square pyramids are found in various architectural structures, most famously in ancient Egypt, where the Great Pyramids of Giza are iconic examples. They are also studied in geometry for their properties and formulas related to volume and surface area. The shape's stability and the efficiency of its construction have made it a recurring theme in design throughout history.