How to Сalculate Water Volume
Volume is the amount of 3-dimensional space that a physical body or substance occupies. The unit of volume is cubic meters (m3). It can mean both the capacity of a particular container, such as a pool, a wooden barrel, or a shipping container, and the flow rate of fluid, such as water.
5-Minute Crafts would like to tell you about how to calculate water volume in a rectangular container and in a cylinder. Additionally, we’ll show how to calculate water volume with the help of its mass.
1. How to calculate water volume in a rectangular container
In order to calculate the volume of a rectangular container, you need to multiply its length, width, and depth. For a rectangle whose sides have different values, the formula looks like this: V = abc. And for a cube whose sides are equal, it’s V = a3.
Example: Jack decided to install a rectangular pool in the backyard. To find the right filtration system and calculate the amount of disinfectant, he needs to know the exact volume of water. The length of the pool is 10 m, the width is 5 m, and the depth is 1.5 m. To calculate the capacity of the pool, Jack first multiplied the length by the width, and then multiplied their product by the depth: V = 10 × 5 × 1.5. The result is 75 m3.
2. How to calculate water volume in a cylinder
To calculate the volume of a cylinder, multiply pi by the radius of the base squared, and then multiply their product by the height of the cylinder. The formula looks like this: V = πr2h.
Example: Mary bought a cylindrical aquarium for a fish. She needs to calculate the required volume of water. The radius of the aquarium is 20 cm (0.2 m) and the height is 60 cm (0.6 m). Then V = 3.14 × 0.22 × 0.6. The result is 0.0754 m3.
3. How to calculate water volume using its mass
In ordinary life, the volume of water is usually measured in liters. At the same time, 1 liter of water has a mass equal to 1 kg, and 1 m3 contains 1,000 kg of water.
Example: Alex has a water tank in his country house. He knows that it contains 1,200 liters, but he needs to inform the water supplier about the volume not in liters, but in cubic meters. To do this, Alex makes simple calculations: 1,200 l = 1,200 kg = 1.2 m3.