A rectangular prism has a cylindrical hole removed, as shown at right.  

1. If the length of the radius of the cylindrical hole is $0.5$ cm, find the volume of the solid.

   Hint (a):

   $\text{Volume of cube}-\text{volume of cylinder}=\text{volume of solid}$

   Step 1(a):

   $\text{Volume of cylinder}=\pi r^2h\\ v=\pi\left(0.5\right)^2\left(6\right)\\ v=1.5\pi\approx4.71\ \text{cm}^3$

   Step 2(a):

   $\text{Volume of cube}=l\cdot w\cdot h\\ v=5\left(2\right)\left(6\right)=60\ \text{cm}^3$

   Step 3(a):

   $\text{Volume of cube}-\text{volume of cylinder}=60\ \text{cm}^3-4.71\ \text{cm}^3$

   Answer (a):

   $≈ 55.3\text{ cm}³$

2. What could this geometric figure represent? That is, if it were a model for something that exists in the world, what might it be? Also, how might you change it to make it a better model?