Measuring Capacity

In this article, we will learn about the word capacity. Capacity is the term where we use this to contain or store a large amount of liquid in a large container. And worried about measuring capacity and want to know the unit terms used to measure capacity. If yes, it is the correct page to find the solutions for your questions.

Students from Grade1 will learn about the length of the word, volume, width, and capacity, etc. On this page, primary school students can easily know about the concept of capacity and get detailed solutions on conversion examples on the term capacity.

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What is Capacity?

The word capacity is defined as the largest amount that something can contain in any closed shape. The capacity is used to measure the volume of a liquid. The amount of liquid that a container holds is called it’s capacity. As we know, liquids have no shape, so, we measure their volume.

With the help of a scale also, we can measure the capacity i.e., placing the scale on a mug or cup where the liquid is we measure the quantity. For example, if we have a liter bottle, we can pour water or any liquid of one liter only, if we pour more than one liter it may overflows because the capacity of the bottle is one liter.

Measuring Capacity | Measurement of Capacity

Capacity is a measure to find how much a container can hold when it is filled. We measure capacity for liquid, solid, and gas, etc, and these are all held in a container. The unit terms to measure capacity are liters, milliliters, gallons, ponds, etc. The total volume of air is assembled inside a container is the capacity of the container. A milliliter is the volume of one cubic meter.

How to measure capacity

Capacity Measurement Units

The term unit is a standard comparison to measure everything. We can measure capacity by using measuring cups, spoons, and jars. While measuring capacity it depends on the amount of liquid we take. To measure capacity we have US standard units and a metric system. The units we use in US standard units are fluid ounces, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons.

In the metric system, we measure by units milliliters, and liters. For small measurements, we use millimeters and fluid ounces. For large quantities like to measure more than a liter we use 1litre, 5litres, and 10litres, etc. The units of measuring capacity and their equivalent are as follows

Capacity Measurement Chart

In U. S Standard System

1 cup = 8 fluid ounces (fl oz)
1 pint (pt) = 2 cups
1 quart (qt) = 2 pints
1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts

Thus, we can simple say as 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces.

In Metric System

We use milliliters and liters commonly to measure capacity. The other units to measure capacity are as follows.

1 milliliter (ml) = 0.001 liter
1 centiliter (cl) = 0.01 liter
1 deciliter (dl) = 0.1 liter
1 liter (l) =  1000 milliliters
1 hectoliter (hl) = 100 liters
1 decaliter (dal) = 10 liters
1 kiloliter (kl) = 1000 liters

A thousand milliliters is equivalent to one liter. Simply, we denote as 1000ml = 1liter (l).

Five hundred milliliters is equivalent to half a liter. Simply, we denote as 500ml = 1/2 liter (l).

Two-fifty milliliters is equivalent to one-fourth a liter. Simply, we denote as 250ml = 1/4 liter (l).

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Measurement of Capacity Examples

Example 1:
Convert 15 kiloliters to liters.
Solution:
We know 1 kiloliter = 1000 liters.
Now, we have to convert 15 kl to liters(l).
The formula to convert kiloliters to liters is 1kl = 1 × 1000 l = 1000 liters(l).
Here, we apply the above formula.
15kl = 15 × 1000 = 15000liters.
Hence, 15kiloliters is equal to 15000liters.

Example 2:
Convert 25 liters to milliliters.
Solution:
We know that 1 l = 1000 ml
Now, convert 25 l to ml.
The formula to convert liters to milliliters is to multiply the volume level by 1000, i.e., 1 l = 1 × 1000 = 1000ml
Apply, the simple capacity conversion formula
ie., 25 l = 25 × 1000 = 25000ml.
Hence, 25liters is equal to 25000ml.

Example 3:
A bottle contained 600 ml of water. The bottle fell and 85 ml of water dropped on the ground. How much water was left in the bottle?
Solution:
A bottle contains water = 600 ml
A bottle of water dropped on the ground = 85 ml
Now, have to find the water left in the bottle.
For that, we subtract the dropped water from the full bottle, i.e., 600ml – 85ml = 515ml.
Hence, The water left in the bottle was 515ml.

Example 4:
Convert 2425 centiliters to liters.
Solution:
We know by the above unit terms 1cl = 0.01l.
Now, convert 2425 centiliters to liters.
The formula to convert centiliters(cl) to liters(l) is 1 cl = 1 × 0.01 = 0.01 l.
Apply, the conversion formula
2425 cl = 2425 × 0.01 = 24.25 liters(l).
Thus, 2425 cl is equivalent to 24.25liters(l).

Example 5:
A drum contains 35 l of oil and another drum contains 23 l. Find the total amount of oil in the two drums.
Solution:
One drum holds the oil = 35 l.
Another drum holds the oil = 23 l.
The total amount of oil in the two drums = 35 l + 23 l = 58 liters(l).

FAQs for Measuring Capacity

1. What is capacity and How you measure the capacity?

Capacity is known as the amount of liquid that a container can hold. We measure capacity by unit terms like liters(l), milliliters(ml), and also by measuring scales on cups, jars, etc.

2. What is the instrument we use for measuring capacity?

The tool or instrument we use to measure capacity is a measuring cup.

3. What are the units of capacity mostly used?

The standard unit terms of capacity measured frequently are liters(l) and milliliters(ml).

4. Is volume and capacity are same?

Volume is the space of an object how much it takes. Capacity is the amount of liquid that a container can hold for measuring.

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