Capacity Notes, Quizzes & Revision
๐ Revision Notes โข ๐ Quizzes โข ๐ Past Papers available in app
Mathematics โ Measurement
Subtopic: Capacity (for age ~10)
Learning goals:
- Know what capacity means.
- Name common units: litre (L) and millilitre (mL).
- Convert between litres and millilitres.
- Use everyday examples from Kenya (jerrycan, water bottle, cup).
What is capacity?
Capacity is how much a container can hold โ usually a liquid like water or milk. It is different from mass (weight). We measure capacity in litres and millilitres.
Units you must know
- 1 litre = 1 L
- 1 millilitre = 1 mL
- 1 L = 1000 mL
Quick conversions
- 500 mL = 0.5 L | 250 mL = 0.25 L | 1500 mL = 1.5 L
Common containers (Kenyan examples)
- Small sachet or medicine cup โ 5โ20 mL
- Tea cup โ 200โ250 mL
- Small water bottle โ 500 mL
- Large soda bottle โ 1โ2 L
- Milk tin / jerrycan used at home โ 10 L or 20 L
Visual idea: compare fills
1 litre (1 L)
1000 mL
A large soda bottle or 5 small cups
500 mL
500 mL
Half of 1 L โ a small water bottle
250 mL
250 mL
A cup used when drinking tea
Tools used to measure capacity
- Measuring jug โ has marks for mL and L.
- Measuring cylinder โ used in science for exact values.
- Bucket or jerrycan โ for large amounts (10 L, 20 L).
Worked examples
Example 1: A jerrycan has 20 L of water. How many 2 L bottles can you fill?
Work: 20 L รท 2 L = 10 bottles.
Example 2: Convert 750 mL to litres.
Work: 750 mL รท 1000 = 0.75 L. So 750 mL = 0.75 L.
Practice questions
- How many millilitres are in 3 litres?
- A small bottle holds 250 mL. How many such bottles fill 1.5 L?
- A cooking pot holds 4 L. How many 500 mL cups can you fill from it?
- Convert 1200 mL to litres.
- If a bucket holds 10 L, how many 250 mL cups fill it?
Answers (click to show)
1) 3 L = 3000 mL.
2) 1.5 L = 1500 mL. 1500 รท 250 = 6 bottles.
3) 4 L = 4000 mL. 4000 รท 500 = 8 cups.
4) 1200 mL = 1.2 L.
5) 10 L = 10,000 mL. 10,000 รท 250 = 40 cups.
2) 1.5 L = 1500 mL. 1500 รท 250 = 6 bottles.
3) 4 L = 4000 mL. 4000 รท 500 = 8 cups.
4) 1200 mL = 1.2 L.
5) 10 L = 10,000 mL. 10,000 รท 250 = 40 cups.
Tips for learners
- Remember: 1 L = 1000 mL. This helps converting quickly.
- Use things at home to practise: bottles, cups, jerrycans.
- When measuring, read the mark at eye level for accuracy.
Good practice: measure water into different containers and write their capacities. Try to use a measuring jug that has mL marks.