Order and compare capacities

You may have learned about estimating and measuring capacity. Capacity is a word to describe how much something holds. We often use this when we think about liquids.

Now we will look at ordering objects by the capacity they hold. To order objects, we look at how much they can hold and then compare them, listing them from largest to smallest or smallest to largest. Watch this video to learn about ordering objects by capacity.

Now try these questions for yourself.

Worked examples

Question 1

We want to order these three cups from largest capacity to smallest capacity.

Cup $1$1	Cup $2$2	Cup $3$3
Capacity $=$= $337$337 mL	Capacity $=$= $630$630 mL	Capacity $=$= $136$136 mL

1. Which of these cups has the largest capacity?

   Cup $1$1

   A

   Cup $2$2

   B

   Cup $3$3

   C

2. Which of these cups has the second largest capacity?

   Cup $3$3

   A

   Cup $1$1

   B

   Cup $2$2

   C

3. Which of these cups has the smallest capacity?

   Cup $3$3

   A

   Cup $1$1

   B

   Cup $2$2

   C

Reveal SolutionWatch video

Question 2

Order $A$A, $B$B, and $C$C from largest total capacity to smallest.

$A$A	$B$B	$C$C

1. $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$, $\editable{}$

Reveal SolutionWatch video

Question 3

Jug B has a capacity of $2$2 litres.

Jug B = $2$2 L

1. Estimate the capacity of jug A.

   $10$10 L

   A

   $1$1 L

   B

   $250$250 mL

   C

   $1$1 mL

   D

Reveal SolutionWatch video