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Year 6 Mathematics Measurement AC9M6M01

Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Volume measures the amount of space inside a 3D shape. For a rectangular prism (box), volume is calculated by multiplying length, width, and height.

What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

Volume of a rectangular prism = length x width x height (V = l x w x h)

Volume is measured in cubic units: mm³, cm³, m³

1 cm³ = 1 millilitre (mL) — useful for liquid volume

To find height when volume is known: h = V / (l x w)

Key Vocabulary

Volume

The amount of three-dimensional space occupied by an object

Rectangular prism

A 3D shape with six rectangular faces, also called a cuboid

Cubic centimetre (cm³)

A unit of volume equal to a cube with sides of 1 cm

Capacity

The amount a container can hold, measured in millilitres or litres

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

A box has length 5 cm, width 3 cm, and height 4 cm. What is its volume?

Question 2

A fish tank has volume 600 cm³. How many millilitres of water can it hold?

Question 3

A rectangular prism has volume 120 cm³, length 6 cm, and width 4 cm. What is its height?

Key Concepts Summary