How To Calculate Volume In Cubic Centimeters

Calculating volume is just another way of saying that you're measuring the amount of space inside a three-dimensional object. You can use standardized formulas for calculating the volume of shapes like cubes, cylinders and spheres, as long as you know their basic measurements.

1. Calculate Volume of a Cube

Calculate the volume of a rectangular solid using the formula

\(V=l\times w\times h\)

Begin by multiplying length × width × height. So if your cube is 5 cm long, 3 cm wide and 2 cm tall, its volume is 5 × 3 × 2 = 30 cubic centimeters.

2. Calculate Volume of a Cylinder

Calculate the volume of a cylinder using the formula:

\(V=\pi \times r^2 \times h\)

Begin by first finding the area of the circle at one end. Square the radius of the circle and multiply the result by "pi" (the symbol π), or approximately 3.14. Multiply this result by the cylinder's height to get its volume. So if the base of your cylinder has a radius of 3 cm, its area is 3² × 3.14, or 28.26 square centimeters. If that same cylinder is 8 cm tall, its volume is 28.26 × 8 = 226.08 cubic centimeters.

3. Calculate Volume of a Sphere

Calculate the volume of a sphere using the formula:

\(V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\)

Begin by first cubing its radius. Multiply the result by pi, then multiply this result by 4/3 to get the volume of the sphere. So if your sphere has a radius of 10 cm, that radius cubed is 10 × 10 × 10 = 1000 cubic centimeters. 1000 × 3.14 = 3140, and multiplying that by 4/3 yields a volume of 4186.67 cubic centimeters.