Hi could somebody tell me how they measure �capacity of cardboard boxes in metric countrys.� In Canada and i guess in the states they measure the capacity in cubic feet.� ���John, are you pulling our legs? The question has such an obvious answer that I don't understand why you need to ask it. The volume of ANYTHING can be measured in cubic metres in SI metric (or in cubic length units of any size such as cubic centimetres, cubic kilometres, etc.)
SI also allows the use of the litre although it is technically not a unit of the SI system. The litre is no more nor less than 1000 cubic centimetres and has traditionally been used primarily for measuring fluids.
So, cardboard box capacities ("capacity" means the volume that a container can hold) would be measured in cubic metres if the box were very big (e.g. a refrigerator box) or in cubic centimetres for more common sizes. If it is rectangular in shape, the volume is merely the length times the width times the height.
(One cubic metre equals 1 000 000 cubic centimetres. The large difference between these two sizes is one of the reason by the litre is allowed since the litre neatly fills the gap between cubic metres and cubic centimeters. One cubic metre equals 1000 litres and
1 litre equals 1000 cubic centimetres.)
Although the litre is used primarily for fluids, there is no rule against its being used for nonfluids, so box capacities could be measured in litres. I have a box right here and I just measured it.
It measures 40 cm X 20 cm X 17 cm, for a
total volume of 13 600 cm^3
which is equal to 0.0136 m^3
(or 13.6 L).
Regards, Bill Hooper Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
