How Do You Find Volume Without Using the Displacement Method?
Calculate the volume of an object other than by the liquid displacement method. The displacement method, using Archimedes' principle, requires a large enough tank to completely submerge the object of interest. Taking measurements with a tape measure is sometimes easier. The volume of an object depends on its physically measured dimensions.
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Instructions
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Rectangular Object
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Measure the length, width and height of the object. For example, you might measure a length of 30 inches, a width of 25 inches and a height of 15 inches.
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Multiply the length times the width times the height to get the volume of the object. Performing this step leads to 30 inches times 25 inches times 15 inches, or a volume of 11,250 cubic inches.
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Divide the volume by 1,728 to convert to cubic feet, since a cubic foot contains 1,728 cubic inches.Performing this step yields 11,250 cubic inches divided by 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot, or a volume of 6.5 cubic feet. (If you're measuring in centimeters, of course, you would divide the volume by 1,000,000 to convert to cubic meters.)
Cylindrical Object
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Measure the height and circumference of the cylinder. Circumference measures the total distance around the curved side of the cylinder. For example, the height and circumference might be 35 inches and 20 inches, respectively.
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Divide the circumference by two times the number pi to get the radius. Using 3.14 for pi leads to the circumference divided by 6.28. If the circumference is 20 inches, the radius is approximately 3.2 inches.
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Multiply the number pi times the square of the radius times the height to obtain the volume of the cylinder. Continuing the example, you have 3.14 x 3.2 x 3.2 x 35, or a volume of 1,125.4 cubic inches.
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Convert the volume to cubic feet by dividing by 1,728. Completing the example, you have 1,125.4 cubic inches divided by 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot, or a volume of 0.7 cubic feet.
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