Final answer:
The volume of the cylinder is 9.81875 cm³.
Step-by-step explanation:
The volume of a cylinder can be calculated using the formula V = πr²h, where r is the radius of the base and h is the height of the cylinder. In this case, the cylinder holds 3 balls, so the height of the cylinder is equal to the diameter of one ball. Given that the diameter of each ball is 2.5 cm, the radius is half of the diameter, or 1.25 cm. Therefore, the volume of the cylinder is:
V = π(1.25 cm)²(2.5 cm)
= 3.14 × 1.25 cm × 1.25 cm × 2.5 cm
= 9.81875 cm³