Skip to content
Supporting Australian Mathematics Project: Middle years.

Year 6 icon

Year 6

Measurement and Geometry

Volume and its units of measurement

Volume is a measurement of the amount of space taken up by a three-dimensional object. Volume is one of the measurements we use frequently. When we talk about the size of a motor in cubic centimetres or buy a truckload of mulch for the garden in cubic metres, we are using volume.

Closely related to volume is the idea of capacity. The capacity of a container is how much liquid or gas the container can hold.

In Australia, we use the metric system of measurement. We buy milk in litres and take doses of medicine in millilitres. The capacity of a swimming pool is measured in megalitres.

Measuring cup containing 5 ml of liquid, markings showing 2.5, 5. 10. 20. 30 and 40 ml.