Distinguishing capacity and volume can be confusing for a lot of people, including adults.

Capacity is a measure of how much a container can hold. So a typical can of Coca Cola has a capacity of 330 millilitres – it can hold 330ml of liquid.

The SI unit for capacity is the litre. 1ml = 1/1000 l.

Volume is how much space an object takes up. So a cube whose edge are 10cm long takes up 10x10x10 = 1000cm³ of space.

The crucial conversion formula that must be memorised to compare a volume with the capacity that an empty container with that volume can hold is that 1 litre = 1000cm³. Perhaps its easier to remember that 1ml = 1cm³.

Exercise

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