Volume is a physical property of an object that describes how much space the object takes up. An easier way to think about what volume refers to is if you think of an empty object that you then fill up with water. The amount of water that you put into that empty object is its volume. See the resources below to learn more about volume and how to calculate it.
Volume Basics
Earlier, your child may have learned how to calculate the area of a 2D shape. Volume uses some similar concepts in that it refers to how much space an object can take up, but volume can only be calculated for 3D shapes. When calculating volume, you have to pay special attention to the kind of 3D shape you are working with; different shapes have different volume formulas that need to be used. We’ve listed some common formulas for you below:
Cube: Volume = a × a × a = a3 , where a is the length of one side
Box: Volume = length × width × height
Cylinder: Volume = πr2h
Sphere: Volume = 4⁄3 πr3
Cone: Volume = 1⁄3πr2h
The value of volume is always denoted with units3, so if the measurements of an object are in inches, the final answer will have a unit of in3.
If your student needs extra practice with volume, you can look at our resources on finding volume through measurement before diving into our resources that help your child practice calculating volume using formulas.
