Campbells' Soup

Cambell's Soup Can Activity

Author: Jane Turchyn, Ball State MATH331 Spring 2010

Learning Objective: Students will explore the concepts of scaling and volume using a real life,familiar object.

Pedagogical justification for use of SketchUp: Volume is used on three dimensional figures, so it is important to

use three dimensional figures to teach this concept. Bringing in objects can be a hassle, and that is why SketchUp

can be a useful tool to create 3D models of those obj ects. If students need further assistance, let them use realobjects to give them a better concrete understanding.

Indiana State Standard: G.7.6/G.7.7 and CCSS: HS.GMG.

Task:

Campbell's Soup wants to make a giant can. Their cans normally have a height of four inches and a radius of 1 and

5/16 inches. They want this giant can to hold one thousand times more soup than their regular cans.

a. What is the amount of soup the normal can is able to hold?

b. What is the scaling factor used to make the giant can one thousand times bigger than the normal can?

c. How much soup can the giant can hold? Answer this in feet cubed.

d. What is the height and radius of the giant can?

Hint: You can create a cylinder instead of downloading the soup can model from the 3Dwarehouse.

Hint: The scale tool would be helpful in this problem.