Volume conversions for physics: liters, cubic meters, cubic centimeters, milliliters + examples.

Part of a playlist on scientific notation, units and significant digits:    • Physics I:  scientific notation, unit...  

Volume conversions for physics: liters, cubic meters, cubic centimeters, milliliters + examples.

We start by noting that one liter of volume is the same as a box 10cm on a side. This allows us to express the liter as 1000 cubic centimeters and we realize that a milliliter is the same as a cubic centimeter.

Next, we draw a one cubic meter box, and we find that 1000 liters fit inside, so we obtain the conversion between liters and cubic meters. We also find that one cubic meter is equal to one million cubic centimeters.

Finally, we work two examples. First, we convert mL to cubic meters, and second, we compute a flow rate given in liters per second into the flow rate in cubic centimeters per second.