When we talk about volume in Year 7, it's really cool to see how different 3D shapes compare to one another—pun intended! Let’s look at a few common shapes and how we figure out their volumes.

1. Cubes: A cube is the simplest shape. To find its volume, you just take one side's length, let's call it $s$. The volume formula is $V = s^3$. For example, if each side is 2 cm long, the volume would be $2^3 = 8 \, \text{cm}^3$.

2. Rectangular Prisms: These shapes are a lot like cubes, but they can have different lengths, widths, and heights. To find their volume, we use the formula $V = l \times w \times h$. Here, $l$ stands for length, $w$ is width, and $h$ is height. For a rectangular prism that is 3 cm long, 4 cm wide, and 5 cm high, the volume would be $3 \times 4 \times 5 = 60 \, \text{cm}^3$.

3. Other Shapes: Besides cubes and prisms, we also have cylinders, cones, and spheres. Here’s how you find the volume for each:

   • Cylinder: The formula is $V = \pi r^2 h$, where $r$ is the radius and $h$ is the height.
   • Cone: The formula is $V = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h$.
   • Sphere: The formula is $V = \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3$.

Each shape has its own formula that matches its size and form. Learning these calculations not only helps us sharpen our math skills but also helps us to see the variety in geometry!