Volume
Volume is the amount of space a 3D shape occupies.
Common units of volume include cubic centimetres (cm3) and cubic metres (m3).
A simple way of working out the volume of a 3D shape is to count how many centimetre cubes would fit into it.
For example:
This cube has a volume of 1 cm3 or 1 cubic centimetre.
The volume of the shape below is 24 cm3.
Volume of a prism
A prism is a solid 3D shape that can be cut into slices that are all the same shape.
volume of a prism = area of cross-section x length
v = a x l
For example:
A door wedge is in the shape of a trapezium.
What is the volume of the door wedge?
volume of a prism = area of cross-section x length
area of cross-section = area of trapezium = 1/2 x (sum of parallel sides) x height
a = 1/2 x (6 + 2) x 4 = 16
l = 8
v = 16 x 8
volume of the door wedge = 128 cm3
Volume of a cubes and cuboids
volume of a cuboid = length x width x height
v = l x w x h
volume of a cube = length x length x length
v = l x l x l
v = l3
For example:
Find the volume of the following shape.
Volume = l x w x h = 8 x 5 x 2 = 80 cm3
Find the volume of the following shape.
Volume = l x l x l = 8 x 8 x 8 = 512 cm3
