SI Fluid Measure

Although there is no official base unit for volume, the conventional unit is the cubic-meter \(\left(\text{m}^3\right)\), although the liter \((\text{L})\) is also commonly used for fluids.

There are \(1000\text{ L}\) in \(1 \text{ m}^3.\)
Alternatively, \(1 \text{ cm}^3 = 1 \text{ mL}.\) \(_\square\)

How many \(\text{mL}\) are in a cube of side length \(4 \text{ cm}?\)

---

First, the volume is \[V=\text{(side length)}^3 = (4 \text{ cm})^3 = 64 \text{ cm}^3.\]

Since, \(1\text{ cm}^3\) = \(1 \text{ mL},\) \[64 \text{ cm}^3 = 64\text{ mL}.\ _\square\]

There is also an important relationship between these volume units and the mass of water.

The mass of \(1 \text{ mL}\) of water is \(1 \text{ g}.\) \(_\square\)