Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I need to figure out how to determine the surface area of different shapes (ie: heart, star, fish, and lime slice) that are not "normal" geometrical shapes. I know the length, width, and height of the objects but can't figure out the surface area.

The volume is easy, just displace water with the object.

I don't know any simple way to determine the surface area of non-geometric objects in general, other than to 3d scan the object into a CAD program and have it calculate it for you.

You could estimate by drawing triangles on the object and calculating the area of the triangles.

What project is this for?

I agree with ray. An easy way is if you can draw it accurately on paper and subdivide it into simple shapes like right triangles, rectangles, or circle sections and add up the sub-areas.

Here's what I would Do.. Similar to Ray, I would Break it up to ,not just Triangles, but other figures too. say a Star, you could break it up into 5 (im guessin ) triangular prisms and the remaining part would become a pentagon(again, Im guessing ).. in the end add them up...

or just as Ray said Use CAD. or ask someone who knows how to.

hope it helps