Topics
7. Measurement
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Australia
Year 5

7.13 Units of capacity

Lesson
Practice
Lesson

Are you ready?

How can we  estimate capacity  ?

Examples

Example 1

Choose the best estimate for the capacity of a tea cup.

A
250 millilitres
B
1 litre
C
500 millimetres
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the table of examples below to compare the capacity of a tea cup.

ObjectCapacity
\text{Water bottle}500 \text{ mL}
\text{Juice box}250 \text{ mL}
\text{Ice cream container}1 \text{ L}
Apply the idea

Based on the table, the juice box has a volume of 250 \text{ mL}. So the best estimate for the capacity of a tea cup is 250 \text{ mL} because a juice box and a tea cup are similar in size. So, the correct answer is A.

Idea summary

We often use millilitres \text{(mL)} and litres \text{(L)} to measure the capacity of liquids.

We can use capacities of known containers to estimate the capacities of other containers.

Units of capacity

How do we know which unit of capacity to use?

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Examples

Example 2

Choose the most appropriate unit of measure for finding the amount of water in a clothes washing machine.

A
Millilitres
B
Litres
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the table of examples below to help you.

ObjectBest unit
Glass of juiceMillilitres
Carton of juiceLitres
Apply the idea

A carton of juice is bigger than a glass of juice, so it is closer to the amount of water in a washing machine. So we should also use litres for finding the amount of water in a washing machine.

The correct answer is B.

Idea summary

A millilitre is about the size of a drop of water.

A litre is about the size of a milk carton.

Outcomes

ACMMG108

Choose appropriate units of measurement for length, area, volume, capacity and mass

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