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, what is the volume of the solid?

   Hint (a):

   Volume of cube − volume of cylinder = volume of solid.

   Step 1(a):

   Volume of cylinder $= πr^2h$
   $v = π(0.5)^2(6)$
   $v = 1.5π ≈ 4.71\text{ cm}^3$

   Step 2(a):

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

   Step 3(a):

   Volume of cube − 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?