Octahedron

Octahedron Facts

Notice these interesting things:

images/polyhedra.js?mode=octahedron

Volume and Surface Area

Volume = (√2)/3 × (Edge Length)3

Surface Area = 2 × √3 × (Edge Length)2

Octahedron

It is called an octahedron because it is a polyhedron that has 8 (octa-) faces, (like an octopus has 8 tentacles)

When we have more than one octahedron they are called octahedra

 

hexagonal prism

When we say "octahedron" we often mean "regular octahedron" (in other words all faces are the same size and shape), but it doesn't have to be - this is also an octahedron, even though all faces are not the same. (But it may be better to call it a hexagonal prism).

 

dice octahedron

8-Sided Dice? Yes! An octahedron that has 8 equal faces has an equal chance of landing on any face.

In fact, you can make fair dice out of all of the Platonic Solids.

 

Make your own Octahedron,
cut out the shape and glue it together.
Octahedron Model Template

 

1856, 1857, 1858, 1859