Mass & Capacity

Mass & Capacity

The difference between capacity and mass lies in what they measure:

  1. Capacity refers to the amount of space a container can hold. It is used to measure volume and is typically expressed in liters (L), milliliters (mL), gallons, or cubic meters (m³).

     

    • Example: A bottle has a capacity of 1 liter, meaning it can hold up to 1 liter of liquid.
  2. Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object. It is measured in kilograms (kg), grams (g), or pounds (lb) and does not change with shape or volume.

     

    • Example: A watermelon has a mass of 2 kg, meaning it contains 2 kg of matter regardless of its shape.

Key Differences:

Feature Capacity Mass
Measures Volume (how much space something can contain) Amount of matter in an object
Units Liters (L), milliliters (mL), cubic meters (m³) Kilograms (kg), grams (g), pounds (lb)
Example A tank with a capacity of 50 liters A rock with a mass of 5 kg