Measuring means finding a number that describes the size of something. The most popular measurement system within the scientific community is the metric system.
We determine how much space an object occupies by measuring its volume. We use volume units to specify an object's volume.
A common metric unit of volume is the liter, which we denote using the symbol "." We can use measuring jugs like the ones below to measure the volume of a liquid.
We use milliliters to measure smaller volumes. The symbol for milliliters is "" The prefix stands for milli, which means Therefore, equals
Notice that if we add to itself times, we get exactly
Therefore, equals as stated in the diagram.
A large bottle of tempera paint has a volume of What is this volume in milliliters?
A table showing the metric units of volume is given below.
| Name | Symbol | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Liter | --- | |
| Milliliter |
So, is equivalent to
Suppose we want to measure the volume of a bottle. Which metric unit could we use?
|
a
|
$\textrm{kg}$ |
|
b
|
$\textrm{s}$ |
|
c
|
$\textrm{m}$ |
|
d
|
$\textrm{g}$ |
|
e
|
$\textrm{mL}$ |
A balloon has a volume of $1\,\textrm{L}.$ What is this volume in milliliters?
|
a
|
$10\,\textrm{mL}$ |
|
b
|
$1\,000\,\textrm{mL}$ |
|
c
|
$100\,\textrm{mL}$ |
|
d
|
$0.1\,\textrm{mL}$ |
|
e
|
$0.01\,\textrm{mL}$ |
Another way to measure volume is to use customary units. The most common customary units for volume are fluid ounce, cup, pint, and gallon.
A table showing the customary units of volume is given below.
| Name | Symbol | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Gallon | ||
| Pint | ||
| Cup | ||
| Fluid ounce |
Note that "gallons" is the largest volume unit, and "fluid ounces" is the smallest.
Customary units are not standard in the scientific community. However, they are commonly used in the United States and other countries.
A self-service restaurant offers ketchup in individual packets. Which customary unit of measurement could the restaurant use to quantify the volume of sauce in each packet?
- ounces
- fluid ounces
- inches
A table showing the customary units of volume is given below.
| Name | Symbol | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Gallon | ||
| Pint | ||
| Cup | ||
| Fluid ounce |
Therefore, from the given options, the only unit of volume is "fluid ounce."
A paint manufacturer sells paint in tins. Which customary unit of measurement could the manufacturer use to quantify the volume of paint in each tin?
|
a
|
inches |
|
b
|
gallons |
|
c
|
ounces |
|
d
|
pounds |
|
e
|
yards |
Which customary unit of measurement could be used to quantify the volume of sugar needed in a recipe?
|
a
|
cups |
|
b
|
ounces |
|
c
|
tons |
|
d
|
yards |
|
e
|
inches |
A soap dispenser has a volume of pint. What is this volume in cups?
A table showing the customary units of volume is given below.
| Name | Symbol | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Gallon | ||
| Pint | ||
| Cup | ||
| Fluid ounce |
So, is equivalent to
A bottle has a volume of $1$ gallon. What is this volume in pints?
|
a
|
$2$ pints |
|
b
|
$5$ pints |
|
c
|
$10$ pints |
|
d
|
$8$ pints |
|
e
|
$16$ pints |
The amount of flour required in a recipe is $1$ cup. What is this volume in fluid ounces?
|
a
|
$16\,\textrm{fluid ounces}$ |
|
b
|
$6\,\textrm{fluid ounces}$ |
|
c
|
$2\,\textrm{fluid ounces}$ |
|
d
|
$4\,\textrm{fluid ounces}$ |
|
e
|
$8\,\textrm{fluid ounces}$ |