How to Calculate Volume of Partially Full Cylinder

The volume of a cylinder depends only on the cylinder's dimensions.

You can calculate the volume of a cylinder by multiplying the area of the cylinder's base by the cylinder's height. As a result, the volume of the cylinder does not change based on how full the cylinder is.

Instructions

1. Measure the cylinder's height and the diameter of the cylinder's base. Divide the cylinder's diameter by 2 to find the cylinder's radius. For instance, if the cylinder is 18 inches tall and has a 6-inch-diameter base, the cylinder's radius is 3 inches.

2. Find the area of the cylinder's base by multiplying the square of the cylinder's radius by π, or 3.14. Thus, the area of a base with a radius of 3 inches is 3 * 3 * 3.14, which equals 28.26 square inches.

3. Calculate the volume of the cylinder by multiplying the height of the cylinder by the area of the cylinder's base. Thus, the volume of the example cylinder is 18 * 28.26, or 508.68 cubic inches.

Tips & Warnings

• Although the volume of a cylinder doesn't change regardless of how full it is, you can also calculate the filled and available volume within the cylinder. To find the filled volume in a partially full cylinder, multiple the area of cylinder's base by the height to which the material rises. Conversely, to find the available volume, multiple the base's area by the height of the section of the cylinder that is empty.

References

• Renton Technical College: Cylinder Volume Lesson Plan