To find the height of the cone, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. We know the following:
- The diameter of the base \( d = 10 \) cm, which means the radius \( r = \frac{d}{2} = 5 \) cm.
- The slant height \( s = 13 \) cm.
Now, we can form a right triangle with the following sides:
- The height of the cone (\( h \), which we need to find).
- The radius of the base (\( r = 5 \) cm).
- The slant height (\( s = 13 \) cm), which is the hypotenuse of the triangle.
According to the Pythagorean theorem:
\[ s^2 = r^2 + h^2 \]
Substituting the known values into the equation:
\[ 13^2 = 5^2 + h^2 \]
This simplifies to:
\[ 169 = 25 + h^2 \]
Next, we subtract 25 from both sides:
\[ 169 - 25 = h^2 \]
\[ 144 = h^2 \]
Taking the square root of both sides gives:
\[ h = \sqrt{144} = 12 , \text{cm} \]
Thus, the height of the cone is \( \boxed{12} \) centimeters.