Jugs and Mugs

'A big jug can fill many small mugs. That is capacity — how much a container can hold.'

1. What You Will Learn

• Understanding capacity — the amount a container can hold
• Measuring in millilitres (mL) and litres (L)
• Converting between litres and millilitres
• Estimating and comparing capacities
• Adding and subtracting capacities

2. What is Capacity?

Every container can hold something — water, milk, oil, or juice. The MAXIMUM amount it can hold is called its capacity.

Everyday Containers

3. Units of Capacity

We use TWO main units to measure capacity.

Millilitre (mL)

• A small unit for tiny amounts
• A teaspoon holds about 5 mL
• A cough syrup bottle holds about 100 mL

Litre (L)

• A larger unit for bigger amounts
• A big water bottle holds 1 L
• A milk packet holds 1 L

Important Conversion

1 litre = 1000 millilitres

4. Estimating Capacity

Before measuring, make a GUESS. These tips help:

• A big spoon holds about 15 mL
• A glass holds about 200-250 mL
• A bucket holds about 10-15 L
• A water tank holds about 500-1000 L

Try This!

Without measuring, guess:

1. How many glasses of water fit in a 1 L bottle? (About 4 glasses of 250 mL each)
2. How many buckets fill a drum of 100 L? (About 10 buckets of 10 L each)

5. Comparing Capacities

Which Holds More?

• A mug or a glass? (A mug holds MORE — about 300 mL vs 250 mL)
• A bucket or a drum? (A drum holds MUCH MORE)
• A spoon or a cup? (A cup holds about 40 times more!)

Ordering Containers

Arrange these from SMALLEST to LARGEST capacity: Spoon (5 mL) → Cup (200 mL) → Mug (300 mL) → Bottle (1 L) → Bucket (10 L) → Drum (100 L)

6. Adding and Subtracting Capacity

Addition

Ravi drinks 250 mL water in the morning and 250 mL in the evening. Total water = 250 + 250 = 500 mL

Subtraction

A 2 L bottle has 750 mL water left. Water drunk = 2000 - 750 = 1250 mL = 1 L 250 mL

7. Key Facts

• 1 L = 1000 mL
• Half a litre = 500 mL
• Quarter litre = 250 mL
• Three-quarter litre = 750 mL
• Capacity is measured with a GRADUATED CYLINDER or MEASURING JUG
• The same amount can look DIFFERENT in different shaped containers (a tall narrow glass vs a short wide bowl)

8. Common Mistakes

'Do NOT think a tall container always holds more than a short one. Shape matters too.' 'Do NOT mix up L and mL — always check if the number is big (mL) or small (L).' 'Do NOT forget that 1 L = 1000 mL, not 100 mL.' 'Do NOT assume all glasses hold the same amount — they can be different sizes.' 'Do NOT write ½ L when you mean 500 mL without showing the conversion.'

9. Fun Activity

Measure Water at Home

• Find 5 different containers in your kitchen
• Guess their capacity
• Use a measuring jug to check
• Record your results in a table

Container Hunt Look for 'L' and 'mL' written on bottles, cans, and packets at home. Make a list of 10 items with their labelled capacities.

10. Self-Test

Q1. How many millilitres are there in 3 litres? Answer: 3 × 1000 = 3000 mL

Q2. A bucket holds 10 L of water. How many 250 mL glasses can it fill? Answer: 10 L = 10,000 mL. 10,000 ÷ 250 = 40 glasses

Q3. Neha drinks 2 glasses of water each of 200 mL. How much does she drink in mL? Answer: 2 × 200 = 400 mL

Q4. A water tank holds 500 L. If 250 L is used, how much water is left? Answer: 500 - 250 = 250 L

Q5. Fill in the blank: 1 litre = _____ millilitres Answer: 1000

Q6. Which holds more — a 750 mL bottle or a 1 L bottle? Answer: A 1 L bottle holds more (1 L = 1000 mL > 750 mL)

11. Key Vocabulary