How do you compare volume?
Volume is the amount of liquid that is in a container.
This is different from capacity which is the amount the container can hold.
The volume of liquids can be compared by looking at the size of the container and measuring the amount of liquid in each one.
You can use the 'greater than' (>), 'less than' (>) and 'equal to' (=) symbols to compare volumes.
Activity: How do you compare volume?
Complete this interactive activity to understand how to compare volume. Then put your knowledge to the test.
Comparing volume
To compare the volume of liquids you can start by looking at the containers they are in.
However, to compare volumes more precisely, they need to be measured.
Liquids are measured in litres and millilitres.
Whether a volume is more or less than another can be shown using the 'greater than' (>), 'less than' (<) and 'equal to' (=) symbols.
Example 1
Is the volume of water in this bucket 500ml or 1l?
✓1l.
The measuring jug has a capacity of 500ml and the sandcastle bucket is clearly larger than the measuring jug.
The volume of water in the bucket must be greater than 500ml.
The answer is 1 litre (1l).
Example 2
The sink and bath are full of water. Which holds more?
✓The bath has more water than the sink.
The size of the container helps us to compare amounts of liquid.
A full bath has more water in it than a full sink of water.
Example 3
How much orange juice is there in the jug?
✓700ml of juice.
The jug has the capacity to hold 1 litre of juice.
The amount of juice in the jug is less than 1 litre.
Using the scale on the jug, you can see that there is 700ml of juice in the jug.
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