Capacity

Measures the quantity of liquid that an object holds. For example, the
capacity of a bottle is the quantity of liquid with which we can fill it. Another word
for capacity is volume. Let’s say that capacity is the volume that a body
occupies in space.

The principal unit for measuring the capacity of an object is the liter. But it is not
the only one that we have. There are multiples, which are the units for specific
capacities bigger than the liter and there are sub-multiples, which are the units
for specific capacities which are smaller.

We can see the units of capacity in the following table:

 There are more measurements of capacity but these are the most common:

 Kiloliter
 Hectoliter
 Decaliter
 Liter
 Deciliter
 Centiliter
 Milliliter

I’ll show you more examples of measurements of capacity:

An Olympic-size pool is about 2500 kiloliters.

A bathtub is about 2 hectoliters.

A barrel is about 2 hectoliters.

A bottle has the capacity of approximately 1 liter.

A tube of toothpaste is approximately 1 deciliter.

A spoon is approximately 1 centiliter

In measurement of capacity we will learn about the standard unit of capacity
and volume. We know that the maximum quantity of a container or vessel can
hold is called its capacity.

The capacity of a vessel is also called it’s the inner volume. We use the word volume as
the amount of space taken up by a solid. If the mouth of the vessel is closed, it is like a
solid. So the space taken by a closed mouth vessel will be called the outer volume of
the container/vessel and the capacity of the vessel will be similar to the inner volume of
the vessel.

Liter is the standard unit of capacity and the smaller unit of capacity is milliliter. In
short liter is written as ‘l’ and milliliter as ‘ml’.

Liter (l) and milliliter (ml) are related to each other as:

1 liter = 1000 milliliter (1 l = 1000 ml).

Different liquids (milk, kerosene oil, diesel, petrol etc.) are measured in liters. Different
liquid medicines are measured in ml.

There are some standard sized vessels or container of different shapes of one-liter
capacity which are used to measure liquids.

Conversion of Standard Unit of Capacity

For the conversion of standard unit of capacity it’s very important to know the relationship
between the different units of capacity.

We know, one liter = 1000 milliliter

1000 milliliter = 1 liter

Relationship between different capacities:

1000 milliliter = 1 liter

Two 500 milliliter = 1 liter

Five 200 milliliter = 1 liter

Ten 100 milliliter = 1 liter

Twenty 50 milliliter = 1 liter

Thus, 1 liter = Two 500 milliliter = Five 200 milliliter = Ten 100 milliliter =
Twenty 50 milliliter
Conversion of liter into milliliter and milliliter into liter:

(i) To convert liter into milliliter, we write three zeroes (000) to the right of the
number of liters.

As, 1 liter = 1000 milliliter, 5 liter = 5000 milliliter

(ii) To convert milliliters into liters, we take the first 3 digits of the number from
the extreme right as milliliters and the rest are written as liters.

Worked-out problems conversion of standard unit of capacity:

1. Convert the following into ml:

(i) 7 liters

We know, 1 liter = 1000 milliliter

= 7 × 1000 milliliters

= 7000 milliliters

Therefore, 7 liters = 7000 milliliters

(ii) 15 liters

We know, 1 liter = 1000 milliliter

= 15 × 1000 ml

= 15000 ml

Therefore, 15 liters = 15000 milliliters

(iii) 4 l 70 ml

We know, 1 liter = 1000 milliliter

= 4 × 1000 ml + 70 ml
= 4000 ml + 70 ml

= 4070 ml

Therefore, 4 l 70 ml = 4070 milliliters

2. Express the following in liters and milliliters:

(i) 6000 ml

= 6 liters 000 milliliters

=6l

Therefore, 6000 ml = 6 liter

(ii) 3579 ml

= 3 l + 579 ml

= 3 l 579 ml

Therefore, 3579 ml = l 579 ml

(iii) 15437 ml

= 15 l + 437 ml

= 15 l 437 ml

Therefore, 15437 ml = 15 l 437 ml

Thus, the three digits from the right denote milliliters and remaining digits
denote liters.

onversion of Measuring Capacity

In conversion of measuring capacity we will learn how to convert liters into

milliliters, milliliters into liters, liters and milliliters into milliliters and milliliters
into liters and milliliters.

Conversion of liters into milliliters:

To convert liters into milliliters, multiply the numbers of liters by 1000.

Consider some of the examples:

(i) 1 liter = 1 × 1000 ml = 1000 ml

(ii) 2 liters = 2 × 1000 ml = 2000 ml

(iii) 5 liters = 5 × 1000 ml = 5000 ml

(iv) 7 liters = 7 × 1000 ml = 7000 ml

(v) 9 liters = 9 × 1000 ml = 9000 ml

(vi) 12 liters = 12 × 1000 ml = 12000 ml

Conversion of milliliters into liters:

To convert milliliters into liters, divide the number of milliliters by 1000 or put a
dot (.) after 3 digits from the right.

Consider some of the examples:

(i) 1000 ml = 1000 ÷ 1000 liter = 1 liter

(ii) 2000 ml = 2000 ÷ 1000 liters = 2 liters

(iii) 5000 ml = 5000 ÷ 1000 liters = 5 liters

(iv) 9000 ml = 9000 ÷ 1000 liters = 9 liters

(v) 10000 ml = 10000 ÷ 1000 liters = 10 liters

(vi) 15000 ml = 15000 ÷ 1000 liters = 15 liters

Conversion of lit res and milliliters into milliliters:

To convert liters and milliliters into milliliters, multiply the numbers of liters by
1000 and add it to the number of milliliters.

Consider some of the examples:

(i) 1 l 200 ml = 1 × 1000 ml + 200 ml = 1000 ml + 200 ml = 1200 ml

(ii) 2 l 700 ml = 2 × 1000 ml + 700 ml = 2000 ml + 700 ml = 2700 ml

(iii) 5 l 400 ml = 5 × 1000 ml + 400 ml = 5000 ml + 400 ml = 5400 ml

(iv) 9 l 900 ml = 9 × 1000 ml + 900 ml = 9000 ml + 900 ml = 9900 ml

(v) 11 l 046 ml = 11 × 1000 ml + 046 ml = 11000 ml + 046 ml = 11046 ml

(vi) 15 l 1 ml = 15 × 1000 ml + 1 ml = 15000 ml + 1 ml = 15001 ml

Conversion of milliliters into liters and milliliters:

To convert milliliters into liters and milliliters, divide the number of milliliters by
1000, the quotient represents liters and remainder represents milliliters.

Consider some of the examples:

(i) 2400 ml = 2400 ÷ 1000 l = 2 l 400 ml

(ii) 5640 ml = 5640 ÷ 1000 l = 5 l 640 ml

(iii) 8007 ml = 8007 ÷ 1000 l = 8 l 7 ml

(iv) 9856 ml = 9856 ÷ 1000 l = 9 l 856 ml

(v) 10456 ml = 10456 ÷ 1000 l = 10 l 456 ml

(vi) 15002 ml = 15002 ÷ 1000 l = 15 l 2 ml

(vii) 25025 ml = 25025 ÷ 1000 l = 25 l 25 ml

(viii) 31012 ml = 31012 ÷ 1000 l = 31 l 12 ml

https://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/volume/

https://www.math-only-math.com/conversion-of-measuring-capacity.html

http://www.jaconline.com.au/mathsquestvic/mq-vic-first-ed/measurement/area/skillbuilders/MS-
convert-vol-capacity.pdf

https://www.smartickmethod.com/blog/math/measurement-and-data/measurements-capacity/