Mass, Capacity and Volume

What Are Mass, Capacity, and Volume?

• Mass tells us how heavy or light an object is.
• Capacity tells us how much a container can hold (like a bottle of juice).
• Volume tells us the actual amount of space an object or liquid takes up.

Understanding Mass Mass is all about weight. We use scales to find out how heavy something is:

• Heavy: An elephant or a big rock has a lot of mass.
• Light: A feather or a leaf has very little mass.
• Balance Scales: We use these to compare two objects. The side that goes down is the heavier one.

Understanding Capacity Capacity is the "limit" of a container. It tells us the most it can possibly hold:

• Large Capacity: A bathtub or a swimming pool can hold a lot of water.
• Small Capacity: A spoon or a tiny cup can only hold a little bit of liquid.
• Measuring Jugs: We use these to see exactly how much liquid a container holds.

Understanding Volume Volume is the amount of stuff actually inside the container right now:

• Full: When the liquid reaches the very top, the volume matches the capacity.
• Half-Full: When the container is only filled halfway.
• Empty: When there is no liquid inside, the volume is zero.

The Measuring Units To be exact, we use different units for mass and liquids:

• For Mass (Weight): We use Grams (g) for light things and Kilograms (kg) for heavy things.
• For Capacity/Volume (Liquids): We use Milliliters (ml) for small amounts and Liters (l) for large amounts.

Why Do We Learn This?

• It helps us follow a recipe when baking a cake (measuring flour and milk).
• It helps us know if a suitcase is too heavy for an airplane.
• It helps us make sure we drink enough water every day.

Lesson Summary

• Mass is for weight; Capacity and Volume are for liquids and space.
• Use a scale for mass and a measuring jug for volume.
• Objects can be heavy or light, and containers can be full or empty.