What is Volume in Physics?
We often visit a dairy to buy milk and ask the shopkeeper to provide us with some litres of milk. Have you ever wondered what this “litre” signifies? It is the Volume and litre is one of its many Units. Here Vedantu has provided for you a write-up on Volume, its various Units and their interConversion. First, let’s start by understanding what Volume is.
You know that Volume is the space occupied by a state of matter. So, what is the SI Unit for Volume considered for measuring it? Well! The SI Unit for Volume is m³. However, many other Units are employed for the Volume in Physics. This page discusses the Units of the Volume list in detail.
The Volume is a basic physical quantity, we consider it a derived quantity and it expresses the three-dimensional proportions of an object.
So, we understand that the SI Unit of Volume in Physics is quantified by using the SI derived Unit, the cubic metre.
Volume in Physics
Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space enclosed by a closed surface in terms of numerical value.
For example, the space that a substance can be Solid, liquid, gas, or plasma, or any space-occupying shape.
The Volume of a container is considered to be the capacity it can hold; i.e., the amount of fluid, a gas, or a liquid that the container can hold, rather than the amount of space the container itself displaces, just like Buoyant force in the water.
Points to be Noted
3-D mathematical shapes are also assigned Volumes. Volumes of shapes, like the regular, straight-edged, and circular shapes can be easily calculated by using arithmetic formulas.
Volumes of complex shapes can be calculated by using integral calculus only if the formula exists for the shape's boundary.
1-D s like lines and 2-D shapes, such as squares are allotted zero Volume in the three-dimensional space.
The Volume of a Solid
The Volume of a Solid, either regularly or irregularly shaped, can be determined by fluid displacement.
Where the displacement of liquid is used for calculating the Volume of a gas. The combined Volume of two substances is always greater than the Volume of just one of the substances (liquid or gas). However, sometimes it happens that one substance dissolves in the other, and in these cases, the combined Volume is not additive.
Units of Volume List
Volume measures capacity. So the SI Unit of Volume is a Unit for measuring the capacity or the proportions of an object or space. The Unit m³ is mostly used to specify the Volume of substances or a liquid (fluids).
However, students must keep in mind that mass and Volume are two different physical quantities. While the Unit of Volume is an interesting topic, so, let’s have a look at what Units are used all over the world below in a tabular form:
Volume in Thermodynamics
In the field of Thermodynamics, the Volume of a system is a significantly extensive parameter for describing the state’s thermodynamic state.
The specific Volume is an intensive property, it is the Volume of the system per its Unit.
Volume is a state function and is independent of some thermodynamic properties like pressure and temperature.
For an ideal gas, the Volume is related to the pressure and temperature, as per the ideal gas law.
Volume Units Conversion
Any Unit of length gives a derived SI Unit of Volume, such as the Volume of a cube that has sides of a given length in metres.
A cubic centimetre or cm3 is the Volume of a cube whose sides are one centimetre, 1 cm in length.
In the International System of Units or SI, the standard Unit of Volume is the cubic metre (m3).
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In the metric system, the Unit of Volume also includes the litre (L), where one litre is equal to the 10-centimetre cube.
Therefore, 1 litre = (10 cm)3 = 1000 cubic centimetres
= 0.001 cubic metres,
So,
1 cubic metre is equal to 1000 litres.
Small amounts of liquid are measured in millilitres Units, where
1 millilitre = 0.001 litres or 1 cubic centimetre.
In the same way, large amounts are measured in megalitres, i.e.,
1 million litres = 1000 cubic metres or 1 megalitre.
Various traditional Units of Volume are still in use, including the following Units of Volume list:
cubic inch,
the cubic foot,
the cubic yard,
the cubic mile,
the teaspoon,
the tablespoon,
the fluid ounce,
the fluid dram,
the gill,
the pint,
the quart,
the gallon,
the minim,
the barrel,
the cord,
the peck,
the bushel,
the hogshead,
Drams grill
Bushels
Pecks
the acre-foot, and
the board foot
Vedantu has also provided a detailed introduction to the topic of Volume. If you are finding it difficult to understand this topic directly, it is suggested you refer to the topic of Volume formulas before proceeding with it.
Conclusion
After reading this article you are well aware of various Units of Volumes, their interConversions and traditionally used Units of Volume. Studying this write-up has taught you how significant Volume and its Units are. These Conversion formulas come in handy at many places in exams and also in practical life. Thus, you have to give your best to understand this topic and try to apply it at various places to ensure you master it.
FAQs on Unit of Volume
1. What is volume and what is its official SI unit?
Volume is the measure of the three-dimensional space an object or substance occupies. The official SI (International System of Units) unit for volume is the cubic metre (m³). This unit represents the space inside a cube that is 1 metre long on each side.
2. What are some common units of volume used in daily life besides the cubic metre?
While the cubic metre is the official SI unit, other units are more common for everyday use. These include:
- Litre (L): Often used for liquids like milk, water, and petrol.
- Millilitre (mL): Used for smaller quantities, such as medicine or cooking ingredients.
- Cubic centimetre (cm³): This is equivalent to a millilitre and is frequently used in science and medicine.
- Gallon and Pint: These are part of the imperial system and are used in some countries for measuring fuel and beverages.
3. Why is the unit of volume called a 'derived unit'?
The unit of volume is called a derived unit because it is created by combining fundamental SI units. The fundamental unit of length is the metre (m). Since volume is calculated by multiplying three lengths (length × width × height), its unit becomes m × m × m, which results in cubic metres (m³). It is 'derived' from the base unit of length.
4. How do you convert between litres and cubic metres?
The conversion between litres and cubic metres is straightforward. The key relationship to remember is that 1 cubic metre is equal to 1000 litres. To convert from cubic metres to litres, you multiply by 1000. To convert from litres to cubic metres, you divide by 1000.
5. What does the term 'per unit of volume' mean in Physics?
The phrase 'per unit of volume' is used to describe how a certain quantity is distributed within a given space. It helps us understand concentration. For example, density is mass per unit of volume (how much matter is packed into a space), and charge density is electric charge per unit of volume (how much charge is in a region).
6. Is litre the official SI unit of volume?
No, the litre is not the official SI unit of volume. The official SI unit is the cubic metre (m³). However, the litre is a widely accepted and commonly used non-SI unit because of its convenience, especially for measuring liquids. One litre is defined as exactly one cubic decimetre (1 L = 1 dm³).
7. What are the basic formulas for calculating the volume of simple shapes?
The formula for volume depends on the object's shape. For some common shapes, the formulas are:
- Cube: Volume = side × side × side (s³)
- Cuboid (Box): Volume = length × width × height (l × w × h)
- Sphere: Volume = (4/3) × π × radius³ ( (4/3)πr³ )
- Cylinder: Volume = π × radius² × height ( πr²h )
8. How does the concept of volume apply differently to solids, liquids, and gases?
While the unit of volume is the same for all states of matter, its behaviour differs:
- Solids have a fixed volume and a fixed shape.
- Liquids have a fixed volume but take the shape of the container they are in.
- Gases have no fixed volume; they expand to fill the entire volume of their container.
So, a block of wood has a constant volume, but the volume of air in a room is equal to the volume of the room itself.
