Measuring cylinder
A tool for the volume of liquids.
Pouring a liquid
You need exactly 70 mL of water.
Which apparatus is used to measure the volume of a liquid?
What this lesson covers
The idea
A measuring cylinder is a narrow transparent cylinder, open at one end, with markings showing the volume of liquid; the smallest volume it can measure grows with its capacity.
Pouring a liquid
You need exactly 70 mL of water.
Which apparatus is used to measure the volume of a liquid?
- A measuring cylinder
- A two-pan balance
- A thread
Different cylinders
Open each tab.
A narrow, marked cylinder
A measuring cylinder is a narrow transparent cylindrical container, open at one end and closed at the other. Markings on it show the volume of the liquid. The bigger the capacity, the larger the smallest volume it can measure.
A measuring cylinder is a narrow, transparent cylinder with volume markings. The smallest volume it can measure grows with its capacity.
- Capacity | Smallest volume usually measured
- 10 mL or 25 mL | 0.1 mL
- 100 mL | 1 mL
- 250 mL | 2 mL
- 500 mL | 5 mL
Notes
The smallest volume a measuring cylinder can measure grows with its capacity.
Check yourself
A measuring cylinder is used to measure the …
What is the smallest volume usually measured by a 100 mL measuring cylinder, in mL?
Answer: 1 mL
A 100 mL measuring cylinder usually measures down to 1 mL.
What is the smallest volume usually measured by a 500 mL measuring cylinder, in mL?
Answer: 5 mL
A 500 mL measuring cylinder usually measures down to 5 mL.
As the capacity of a measuring cylinder grows, the smallest volume it can measure …
- mass of a liquid. Mass is measured with a balance.
- temperature of a liquid. A measuring cylinder measures volume.
- volume of a liquid — correct. Yes!
- grows — correct. Yes!
- shrinks. It grows with capacity.
- stays 0.1 mL. It grows: 0.1 mL for 25 mL, 5 mL for 500 mL.