Volume vs. Capacity: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Volume is the amount of space occupied by an object, often measured in cubic units, whereas capacity refers to the maximum amount that something can contain, usually specific to containers.
Key Differences
Volume is a measure of the three-dimensional space occupied by a substance or object, expressed in cubic units like liters or cubic meters. Capacity, however, specifically denotes the maximum amount that a container or space can hold, often related to fluids or loose materials.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
In practical terms, volume can apply to solid objects, gases, and liquids, representing the extent of space they occupy. In contrast, capacity is typically used for containers, indicating how much liquid, gas, or other materials they can hold before being full.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Volume is a fundamental concept in physics and mathematics, used to calculate the space taken by an object regardless of its content. Capacity is more of a practical measurement, often used in everyday life, like in cooking or storage, to indicate how much a container can hold.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
When measuring volume, precision is key, and it is applicable in various scientific and engineering contexts. Capacity, on the other hand, is often associated with practical usage, like determining the amount a bottle or tank can hold.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
The concept of volume can be abstract and is used in various fields ranging from geometry to fluid dynamics. Capacity is more concrete, directly associated with the functional aspect of containers and spaces in terms of storage or holding capability.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Measure of space occupied by an object
Maximum amount a container can hold
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Nov 25, 2023
Measurement Units
Cubic meters, liters, cubic feet
Liters, gallons, cubic meters
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Nov 25, 2023
Context of Use
Scientific, mathematical calculations
Practical, everyday use
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Nov 25, 2023
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Volume and Capacity Definitions
Volume
A physical quantity representing the space enclosed within a shape.
Calculating the volume of a cylinder involves its height and radius.
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Nov 20, 2023
Capacity
The maximum amount that a container or space can hold.
The capacity of the fuel tank is 50 liters.
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Nov 20, 2023
Volume
The extent of space that a substance (solid, liquid, gas) occupies.
She calculated the volume of the ingredients to fit the recipe requirements.
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Nov 20, 2023
Capacity
The potential volume that a container or area can accommodate.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 20,000 people.
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Nov 20, 2023
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Capacity
The ability to receive, hold, or absorb something
The storage capacity of a car's trunk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A series of issues of a periodical, usually covering one calendar year.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A unit of written material assembled together and cataloged in a library.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The ability to do, make, or accomplish something; capability
A comedian's capacity for making people laugh.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The maximum or optimum amount that can be produced
Factories operating below capacity.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
The amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object or region of space, expressed in cubic units.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The quality of being suitable for or receptive to specified treatment
The capacity of elastic to be stretched.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
The capacity of such a region or of a specified container, expressed in cubic units.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The position in which one functions; role
In your capacity as sales manager.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
Amount; quantity:a low volume of business; a considerable volume of lumber.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
Filling a space with the most it can hold
A capacity crowd at the concert.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A three-dimensional measure of space that comprises a length, a width and a height. It is measured in units of cubic centimeters in metric, cubic inches or cubic feet in English measurement.
The room is 9x12x8, so its volume is 864 cubic feet.
The proper products can improve your hair's volume.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
Strength of sound; loudness.
Please turn down the volume on the stereo.
Volume can be measured in decibels.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The maximum amount that can be held
It was hauling a capacity load.
The orchestra played to a capacity crowd.
A factory operating at less than full capacity.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
The issues of a periodical over a period of one year.
I looked at this week's copy of the magazine. It was volume 23, issue 45.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A single book of a publication issued in multi-book format, such as an encyclopedia.
The letter "G" was found in volume 4.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
(economics) The total supply of money in circulation or, less frequently, total amount of credit extended, within a specified national market or worldwide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
(operations) The maximum that can be produced on a machine or in a facility or group.
Its capacity rating was 150 tons per hour, but its actual maximum capacity was 200 tons per hour.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
(computing) An accessible storage area with a single file system, typically resident on a single partition of a hard disk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
Filling the allotted space.
There will be a capacity crowd at Busch stadium for the sixth game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
(bodybuilding) The total of weight worked by a muscle in one training session, the weight of every single repetition summed up.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The power of receiving or containing; extent of room or space; passive power; - used in reference to physical things.
Had our great palace the capacityTo camp this host, we all would sup together.
The capacity of the exhausted cylinder.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The power of receiving and holding ideas, knowledge, etc.; the comprehensiveness of the mind; the receptive faculty; capability of understanding or feeling.
Capacity is now properly limited to these [the mere passive operations of the mind]; its primary signification, which is literally room for, as well as its employment, favors this; although it can not be denied that there are examples of its usage in an active sense.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
Ability; power pertaining to, or resulting from, the possession of strength, wealth, or talent; possibility of being or of doing.
The capacity of blessing the people.
A cause with such capacities endued.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
Outward condition or circumstances; occupation; profession; character; position; as, to work in the capacity of a mason or a carpenter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A roll; a scroll; a written document rolled up for keeping or for use, after the manner of the ancients.
The papyrus, and afterward the parchment, was joined together [by the ancients] to form one sheet, and then rolled upon a staff into a volume (volumen).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
Legal or moral qualification, as of age, residence, character, etc., necessary for certain purposes, as for holding office, for marrying, for making contracts, wills, etc.; legal power or right; competency.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Volume
Hence, a collection of printed sheets bound together, whether containing a single work, or a part of a work, or more than one work; a book; a tome; especially, that part of an extended work which is bound up together in one cover; as, a work in four volumes.
An odd volume of a set of books bears not the value of its proportion to the set.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Volume
Anything of a rounded or swelling form resembling a roll; a turn; a convolution; a coil.
So glides some trodden serpent on the grass,And long behind wounded volume trails.
Undulating billows rolling their silver volumes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The susceptibility of something to a particular treatment;
The capability of a metal to be fused
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
Dimensions; compass; space occupied, as measured by cubic units, that is, cubic inches, feet, yards, etc.; mass; bulk; as, the volume of an elephant's body; a volume of gas.
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The amount that can be contained;
The gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The maximum production possible;
The plant is working at 80 per cent capacity
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
The amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object;
The gas expanded to twice its original volume
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
A specified function;
He was employed in the capacity of director
He should be retained in his present capacity at a higher salary
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
The property of something that is great in magnitude;
It is cheaper to buy it in bulk
He received a mass of correspondence
The volume of exports
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
(computer science) the amount of information (in bytes) that can be stored on a disk drive;
The capacity of a hard disk drive is usually expressed in megabytes
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
Physical objects consisting of a number of pages bound together;
He used a large book as a doorstop
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A publication that is one of a set of several similar publications;
The third volume was missing
He asked for the 1989 volume of the Annual Review
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
The power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
A relative amount;
Mix one volume of the solution with ten volumes of water
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Oct 19, 2023
Volume
The magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction);
The kids played their music at full volume
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Oct 19, 2023
Capacity
A measure of the limit to which a space can be filled.
The bottle's capacity was not sufficient for the entire beverage.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Volume
The amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies.
The volume of the water in the tank was measured in cubic meters.
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Nov 20, 2023
Capacity
The extent to which a container can be filled with a substance.
The jug has a capacity of two gallons of water.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Volume
The capacity of a body or region in three-dimensional space.
The sculpture had a surprisingly large volume despite its slender appearance.
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Nov 20, 2023
Capacity
The total volume that can be contained or accommodated.
The storage room has a capacity of 100 cubic feet.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 20, 2023
Volume
A unit of measurement for the size of a three-dimensional object.
The volume of the gas expanded when heated.
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Nov 20, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What units are used for capacity?
Typically in liters, gallons, or cubic meters.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Is capacity only for containers?
Mostly, it refers to the limit of containers or spaces.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Is capacity a practical measure?
Yes, it's used in practical and functional contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Is capacity important in everyday life?
Yes, especially in cooking, storage, and container design.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Does capacity indicate functionality?
Yes, it shows how much a container can functionally hold.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
How do you calculate volume?
By using formulas depending on the object's shape.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Can volume be visually estimated?
Not accurately, as it requires specific measurements.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Are volume and capacity interrelated?
Yes, but they are used in different contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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