What is Capacity?

• Capacity refers to the maximum amount of liquid a container can hold.
• It is a special case of volume, where we measure how much liquid can fit inside a container.

Example of Capacity

• If a water tin holds 100 cm³ of water, then its capacity is 100 cm³.
• This means the tin can hold 100 cubic centimeters of any liquid, such as water, milk, or oil.

Relationship Between cm³, Litres, and Millilitres

Since liquids are often measured in litres (L) and millilitres (mL), we need to understand their conversion with cubic centimeters (cm³):

✅ 1 millilitre (mL) = 1 cubic centimeter (cm³)
✅ 1 litre (L) = 1000 cubic centimeters (cm³)
✅ 1 cubic meter (m³) = 1,000,000 cm³ = 1000 litres (L)

Breaking it Down for Better Understanding:

1. Smallest Unit: 1 cm³ = 1 mL

   • A tiny cube with 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm dimensions can hold 1 mL of water.

2. 1 Litre = 1000 cm³

   • A water bottle of 1 L has a volume of 1000 cm³.
   • That means it can hold 1000 tiny 1 cm³ cubes of liquid.

3. 1 Cubic Meter (m³) = 1,000,000 cm³ = 1000 L

   • A large water tank with a 1m × 1m × 1m volume can hold 1,000,000 cm³ of water, which equals 1000 litres.
   • This is why big water tanks and reservoirs are measured in cubic meters.

   • Key Takeaways:

     • Capacity is just volume when measuring liquids.
     • 1 cm³ = 1 mL, so a small cube of 1 cm³ holds 1 mL of liquid.
     • 1 L = 1000 cm³, meaning a 1-litre bottle has a volume of 1000 cm³.
     • 1 m³ = 1000 L, which is why big tanks and reservoirs are measured in cubic meters.