Millilitres, cubic centimetres and displacement · Usually met around P6
Millilitres and cubic centimetres
1 mL = 1 cm³; 1 L = 1000 cm³.
How to do it
Method
1 mL = 1 cm³; 1 L = 1000 cm³
Inside 8 × 5 × 10 = 400 cm³ → 400 mL
Another way
Count the small cubes
40 a layer, 10 layers → 400 cubes → 400 mL
In full
Capacity is how much a container can hold, measured in litres and millilitres; volume is how much space a thing takes up, measured in cubic centimetres (cm³). A box 1 cm a side inside holds exactly 1 mL of water, so 1 mL = 1 cm³; a box 10 cm a side inside has a volume of 10 × 10 × 10 = 1000 cm³ and holds exactly 1 litre, so 1 L = 1000 mL = 1000 cm³. Changing between them, cubic centimetres and millilitres are the same number: 250 cm³ = 250 mL; for litres, divide by 1000: 2500 cm³ = 2.5 L. A box 8 cm long, 5 cm wide and 10 cm high inside holds 8 × 5 × 10 = 400 cm³, so 400 mL of water. Another way: picture the box filled with 1 cm³ cubes, 8 × 5 = 40 a layer and 10 layers, 400 cubes, each holding 1 mL: 400 mL.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
9400 cm³ = □ L
Show the answer and working
Answer: 9.4
9400 cm³ = 9400 mL; 1000 mL is 1 L, so 9400 ÷ 1000 = 9.4.
Example 2
1 L 100 mL = 1100 cm³
True or false?
Show the answer and working
Answer: True
1 L = 1000 cm³ and 1 mL = 1 cm³: 1 × 1000 + 100 = 1100.
Example 3
A fish tank is 30 cm long, 40 cm wide and 40 cm high inside. How many litres of water can it hold?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 48 L
30 × 40 × 40 = 48000 cm³ = 48000 mL; 48000 ÷ 1000 = 48 L.
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