What is Volume? | Definition and Examples

It is the amount of the space that an object and a substance occupy or that which is enclosed within a container. The most ideal approach to visualize volume is to consider it as far as the space enclosed/occupied by any 3-dimensional item or a solid shape.

We can see it by doing it at home,

1. First, take a sheet of a paper, rectangular in shape length of 1cm and h cm of width.
2. After that join the sides of the sheet as shown in the image below, without creasing the sheet.
3. Then you will see that you have made 3-D object/shape, which encloses the space within.

Importance of the Volume

Units of the volume

It is given that volume has 3-D, it has a length of cubic measures.

Also, while the standard unit of measurement universally is a cubic meter or cubic centimetre, casually the most utilized term is litres or millilitres.

So, now we are fully familiar with the units of volume. Now, let’s take a look at calculating the volume of other common shapes and figures.

Cube

It is a special case of cuboid or we can say a rectangular prism, here all the three sides are equal when measured. When we represent a cube’s side as ‘a’, then the cube has all the sides as ‘a’. Now, the volume a cube is calculated as;

Volume of cube=a x a x a = a³

Cylinder

A Cylinder shape is kind of tube-like structure with round outer faces of a similar span at either end joined by the planar circular surface.

Consider it the area of a circular increased by a 3rd-D, the height.

Volume of Cylinder = π x r x r x h = πr²h

Volume of Pyramid

The Pyramid shape formed by a base. It commonly is a triangle or a square. In spite of the fact that pyramids with bases with bigger than 4 are likewise conceivable and planar three-sided surfaces.

The volume of Pyramid = 1/3 x area of base x height
= 1/3 x a² x h
(here ‘h’ is the height of the Pyramid and a is the area of the base)

Volume of Cone

There is only one difference between a cone and a pyramid is that they both have different bases. The cone has the circular base and the pyramid has a squared base. Also, the pyramid has planar surfaces and the cone has a curved surface.

We can use ice cream cone as an example,

Volume of Cone = 1/3 x π x r x r x h
= 1/3 x π x r² x h
( so, h is the height of the cone and radius is denoted by ‘r’)