Conversion of Metric Units of Capacity

Concept

The term capacity is used for measuring the volume of a liquid.

The metric system of measurement is the standard way of measuring distance, calculating capacity, and most of the other day-to-day items.

Liters and milliliters are metric units of volume which are used to measure the capacity of a liquid. The capacity of a liquid can be measured in milliliters, centiliters, liters and kiloliters. Though all these units represent the same quantity, their values differ.

Rules

How to convert metric measurements of capacity:

To convert from one metric unit to another, moving up the chart, multiply by powers of 10 for every step.

If converting moving down the chart, divide by powers of 10 for every step.

To compare two metric weights with different prefixes, convert them to become the same prefix, then compare.

Note: To convert a bigger unit into a smaller unit, we multiply by powers of 10.
To convert a smaller unit into a bigger unit, we divide by powers of 10.

How to compare metric measurements:
1. If necessary, convert one of the measurements so that both measurements are in the same unit.
2. Working from left to right, compare digits that have the same place value. Starting with the digit on the left and moving right, whichever number first has a larger digit is the larger number overall.

Example

Convert.

1.6 kiloliters =_____ liters

Solution

1. Kilo means 1,000 times so 1,000 liters = 1 kiloliter

2. Kiloliter is bigger than a liter so we multiply 1.6 by 1,000.
1.6 x 1,000 = 1,600

1.6 kiloliters = 1,600 liters

Practice Conversion of Metric Units of Capacity