Objects around us move in different ways. Some objects roll, some slide, and some can be flipped. The movement of an object depends on its shape and surface. Shapes with curved surfaces usually roll, while shapes with flat surfaces can slide. In this lesson, we will learn about rolling, sliding, and flipping objects and understand these movements with the help of simple real-life examples.

We have learned about 3D solid shapes. Now let’s see which 3-d shapes can roll, and which can slide.

Rolling objects

Rolling: To move by turning over and over.
Objects with curved surfaces roll.

Example:

Sphere shape has a curved surface.
Ball is an example of a sphere shape. If we just move the ball it will roll.

Rolling Ball

Which 3-D shapes can roll?
Sphere, Cylinder, Cone shapes have curved surfaces. So, these shapes can roll.

Real-life examples of the objects which can roll.

Sliding objects

Slide: To move objects smoothly along a surface.
Objects with smooth plane surfaces can slide.

Example:

Cube shape has a plain smooth surface.
Box is an example of a cube shape. It has a smooth surface. If we push the box, it will slide.

Sliding box

Which 3-D shapes can slide?
- Cube and Cuboid shapes have smooth surfaces. So, these shapes can easily slide.
- But Cone and cylinder shapes can also slide. Cone and cylinder shapes also have smooth plain surfaces.

Real-life examples of the objects which can slide.

Flipping objects

Flipping: To turn over the objects.
Creating a mirror image is flipping.

There are two types of flipping -

Vertical flip
Horizontal flip

Example:

Vertical flip: Top side switches to the bottom and bottom side switches to the top side.Horizontal flip: In the horizontal flip left side switches to the right side and right side switches to the left side.

New Words:

Numbers make sense when they're taught right. To see how Orchids The International School turns Maths from intimidating to intuitive, reach out to our admissions team.

Frequently Asked Questions on Rolling, Sliding and Flipping Objects

1. What does rolling mean?

Rolling is when an object moves by turning around on its curved surface. For example, a ball rolls across the floor.

2. What does sliding mean?

Sliding is when an object moves along a surface without turning. For example, a book slides across a table when pushed.

3. What does flipping mean?

Flipping is when an object turns over from one side to another. For example, a coin flips in the air.

4. Which objects roll?

Objects with curved surfaces usually roll, such as:

Ball
Marble
Wheel
Orange
Can

5. Which objects slide?

Objects with flat surfaces usually slide, such as:

Book
Box
Eraser
Pencil box
Brick

6. Which objects can both roll and slide?

Some objects can do both depending on how they are placed, such as:

Tin can
Water bottle
Cylinder
Rolling pin

7. Why do balls roll easily?

Balls have a smooth, curved surface that allows them to turn and move easily in any direction.

8. Why doesn't a cube roll?

A cube has flat faces and sharp edges, so it slides instead of rolling.

9. Can an object both roll and flip?

Yes. Some objects, like a coin or a toy wheel, can roll on a surface and also flip when tossed.

10. What shape is best for rolling?

Shapes with curved surfaces, such as circles, spheres, and cylinders, roll most easily.

11. What is the difference between rolling and sliding?

Rolling involves turning while moving, whereas sliding involves moving without turning.

12. What happens when you flip an object?

When you flip an object, it rotates and lands on its opposite side or another face.

Admissions Open for 2026-27

Quick Poll

What type of concept pages would you prefer?

Longform and detailedShort and crisp informationLess text with more images and diagrams

Table of 603	Table of 930	Table of 174	Table of 61	Table of 354
Table of 641	Table of 466	Lowest Common Multiple	Table of 201	Average Questions
Dot Product of Two Vectors	Missing Numbers	XVI Roman Numerals	Table of 752	Table of 193
Table of 967	Table of 914	Table of 600	Table of 984	Table of 657

Rolling, Sliding and Flipping Objects