Volume: Graduated Cylinder
What is volume?

Volume – (def.) the
amount of space an
object takes up
How could you find the
volume of a glass of
water? A penny?
Glass of water – measure
out the volume using a
graduated cylinder
 Penny – use the “Water
Displacement Method”

 Graduated cylinder (def) – A cylindrical
tool used to measure the volume of
liquids and irregular solids
 Found in various sizes to hold different
volumes of liquid
 Measured in milliliters (mL)
Metric Benchmark:
•The base unit used to
measure volume in the
metric system is the liter (L)
•The volume of 1 liter was
determined by calculating
the size of one cubic
decimeter
•10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm =
1000 cm³ = 1L
Which is larger?
A. 1 liter or 1 gallon
B. 1 liter or 1 quart
C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce
1 gallon = 3.79 liters
It would take approximately 3 ¾
1-liter bottles to equal a gallon.
1 fl oz = 29.573 mL
One 12-oz can of
soda would equal
approximately
355 mL
1 liter = 1.06 quarts
•1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cm3 (or cc) = 1 gram*
•5 milliliter (mL) = 1 teaspoon
•15 milliliter (mL) = 1 tablespoon
•240 milliliter (mL) = 1 cup
•1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)
•3.8 liters (L) = 1 gallon
To find the volume of a liquid…
1. Pour the liquid into a graduated cylinder

(Be sure to use a measuring tool that is close in size to the
object you are measuring! )
2. Look at the water at
eye level


If you look closely you will
see that the surface of the
water is not straight across,
but curves slightly
This curve is called a “meniscus”
3. Read the line where the meniscus touches as
the volume of liquid being measured


The meniscus is (def.)
the concave surface of
a liquid used to
determine volume in a
graduated cylinder
To read the meniscus,
look at the lowest
point of the curve at
eye level.
*The meniscus forms when the molecules of the liquid
become attracted to side of the container that holds them
Step 1: Find the two labels
surrounding the water level.
*The meniscus is between 50 mL and 60 mL
Step 2: Use the labels to find the
nearest graduated increment.
Count up from the smaller line.
*The meniscus is between 52 mL and 53 mL
Step 3: Estimate the water level as
accurately as possible based on the
placement of the meniscus on the line.
*The meniscus is about ¾ of the way between 52 mL
and 53 mL, so the final reading would be 52.75 mL
Practice finding the volume for the
next few graduated cylinders:
•In between what two markings does the
meniscus fall between?
•What exact marking does the meniscus touch?
•Between which two markings does the level fall?
(Hint: Notice the interval markings)
•What exact marking does the meniscus touch?

Technique 1: To find the volume of an
irregularly shaped object, you must use a
method called the “Water Displacement
Method”

How do I find the
volume of this model
triceratops??

Step 1 – Measure the volume of
water in your graduated cylinder.
Record your information.

Step 2 – Place the solid object
into the cylinder.

Step 3 – Measure the new water
level.

Step 4 – Subtract the old water
level from the new water level.
You now have the volume of the
solid object.
New Volume – Old Volume = Difference
(Volume of object being measured)

Technique 2: To find the volume of a
Rectangular Prism…

Multiply the length (l) x width (w) x height (h)

What is the volume of this
rectangular prism?
 l = 5 cm, w = 4 cm, h = 10 cm
 5 cm x 4 cm x 10 cm
 200 cm³

Technique 3: To find the volume of a
Cylindrical Prism…

Multiply ∏ r² h

What is the volume of this
cylindrical prism?
 ∏ = 3.14
 r = 5 cm
 h = 6 cm
Accelerated Bellwork:
 Find the volume shown in each of the
following graduated cylinders:
 Write your units in mL, cL, dL and L
Accelerated Bellwork:
 6.6 mL
 0.66 cL
 0.066 dL
 52.75 mL
 0.0066 L
 76 mL
 5.275 cL
 7.6 cL
 0.5275 dL
 0.76 dL
 0.05275 L
 0.076 L

Find the volume shown by each of the
following graduated cylinders:

9.75 mL
• 35 mL
• 6.1 mL