If you have an object with a standard geometric shape, such as a cube or a sphere, you can calculate its volume by measuring its dimensions and using the relevant mathematical formula. For example, if you measure the length of one side of a cube (L), the volume of the cube is L3. The volume of a sphere would be:
What do you do with an irregular object, though, such as a pen or a rock? The Greek philosopher Archimedes was faced with this problem when he was asked to find the density of the king's crown. To determine its density, he had to know its volume, and his "Eureka" moment occurred when he realized he could do it by immersing the crown in water and measuring the amount of water that was displaced. The displacement method is still the standard way to determine the volume of an irregularly shaped object.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)
You can find the volume of an irregularly shaped object by measuring the amount of water it displaces. If you know the density of the object, you can also find its volume simply by weighing it.
Using the Displacement Method
Look for a container large enough to hold the object. It's best to use a container with a regular shape, such as a cylinder or a box, because you'll need to calculate its volume. If you don't have a regular container, you can always fill it to the brim with water, catch the water that overflows when you immerse the object you're measuring and transfer the water to a graduated vessel.
Add at least enough water to allow you to completely immerse the object. If you aren't using a graduated container, mark the water level on the side of the container.
Read the new level on the scale if you use a graduated vessel. Subtract the old level from this one to get the change in level.
If you don't use a graduated container, make a new mark on the container. Subtract the height of the original mark from the height of the new one to get the change in water level.
Read the volume levels if you use a graduated container, but if you use an ungraduated container, you'll have to calculate the volume. The calculation depends on the shape of the container.
Cylindrical Container: Measure the radius of the container opening (r) and calculate volume of displaced water using this formula:
Rectangular Container: Measure the length (L) and width (W) of the container opening. The volume of displaced water is:
It's Easier When You Know the Object's Density
You may be measuring the volume of a copper penny or a silver statue. Both of these have known densities that you can look up. If you know the density of the material from which the object is made, you can find the volume simply by weighing the object. Since density = mass ÷ volume; volume = mass ÷ density.
Example: A silver statue weighs 10 kilograms. Since the density of silver is 10,490 kg/m3, the volume is:
1 cubic meter equals 1,000 liters, so this equals 0.95 liters or 0.25 U.S. gallons.
References
Tips
- One use for measuring the volume of a solid object is when trying to determine shipping costs that are based on volume of the package.
About the Author
Chris Deziel holds a Bachelor's degree in physics and a Master's degree in Humanities, He has taught science, math and English at the university level, both in his native Canada and in Japan. He began writing online in 2010, offering information in scientific, cultural and practical topics. His writing covers science, math and home improvement and design, as well as religion and the oriental healing arts.