How my parents torture me at meals_Lowerlevel_02
Volume is a way to describe how big or small an object is. Volume is how much space something takes up. Solids and liquids both have volume. You use a special tool to measure liquid. It is thin and tall and called a graduated cylinder. Graduated cylinders give very exact measurements of a liquid’s volume. Sometimes you don’t need to be so exact. Beakers can also be used to measure liquids. You have a similar measuring tool at home. It is called a measuring cup. Your mom and dad use these when they bake cakes for birthday parties. Liquids are easy to measure. Solids get a bit trickier.
Maybe you need to ship someone a birthday present. You bought a large stuffed bear for your cousin. You will need to find a box big enough for it to fit in. The size, or volume, of a box can help you find what could fit inside it. To find the volume of the box is very easy. All you need to do is multiply the length times the width times the height (L x W x H) of the box. This way of finding volume works really well for some things. If the item is a regular shape, such as a square, rectangle, or sphere, it is just simple Math.
But what if it is not a simple shape?
Finding the volume of irregularly shaped objects is actually pretty fun and easy. All you have to do is measure the liquid’s volume before and after. Put water in a graduated cylinder and measure it. You then place the object into the water. You again measure the liquid’s volume. The difference in the two measurements gives you the volume of the object. Pretty cool!Look at the image above. You would use the gradated cylinder to find the volume of the rock.
“Dad, can you pass me about 50 more grams of mash potatoes?” you ask.
Your dad just shakes his head and laughs as he hands you the bowl of potatoes.
“Okay son, you keep up the great work in Science class. I have no doubt you will one day be a scientist yourself”, your mom says as she pats you on the head.