1. 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”

2. Tool: The Graduated Cylinder
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)

3. What is a liter? mL kL L Metric Benchmark:cL mL L
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

4. Standard vs. Metric Which is larger? 1 fl oz = 29.573 mL
A. 1 liter or 1 gallon
B. 1 liter or 1 quart
C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce
1 fl oz = mL
One 12-oz can of soda would equal approximately 355 mL
1 liter = 1.06 quarts
It would take approximately 3 ¾ 1-liter bottles to equal a gallon.
1 gallon = 3.79 liters

5. So How big is a Liter? 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

6. To find the volume of a liquid…
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! )
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”
Read the line where the meniscus touches as the volume of liquid being measured

7. What is a meniscus?
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

8. 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 mL

9. 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?

10. Practice Problems Between which two markings does the level fall?
(Hint: Notice the interval markings)
What exact marking does the meniscus touch?

11. Measuring Irregular Solid Objects
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??

12. The Water Displacement Method
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)

13. Measuring Solid Objects
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 h w l

14. Measuring Solid Objects
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

15. Accelerated Bellwork:
Find the volume shown in each of the following graduated cylinders:
Write your units in mL, cL, dL and L A C B

16. Accelerated Bellwork:
6.6 mL
0.66 cL
0.066 dL L B
52.75 mL
5.275 cL dL L
76 mL
7.6 cL
0.76 dL
0.076 L

17. Science 8 Bellwork:
Find the volume shown by each of the following graduated cylinders: C A B

18. Science 8 Bellwork: A C B
9.75 mL
35 mL
6.1 mL