Original notes — ready
Chapter 8: Weight and Capacity
CBSE (NCERT, English Medium) • Class 5 • Mathematics • Book: Math Mela
Weight and Capacity — EG's own notes, in simple words
Book: Math Mela (CBSE, Class 5) | Chapter 8 | Medium: English
Diagram (labels are printed on the image): A balance, a jug and apples being weighed. A general teaching picture about weight and capacity; no bucket is shown in this picture.
A vendor weighing vegetables. A general picture about weight.
What the chapter is about
Weight tells us how heavy something is; capacity tells us how much a container can hold. Weight is measured in kilograms (kg) and grams (g): 1 kg = 1000 g. Capacity is measured in litres (L) and millilitres (mL): 1 L = 1000 mL.
We estimate weight by comparing: a school bag is about 3–5 kg, an apple about 150 g, a car about 1000 kg. We estimate capacity by the container: a glass holds about 200 mL, a bucket about 10 L.
In problems, always convert to the same unit before adding or subtracting — just like with length.
Shops use weight and capacity every day. Vegetables are sold by weight, milk and oil by capacity, and cloth by length. Knowing which measure fits which thing is the first step in every market sum.
What you should learn
Hold the units in your mind as a ladder: kg → g (×1000), L → mL (×1000). Going down the ladder, multiply; going up, divide.
Key Terms
- Weight — How heavy something is.
- Capacity — How much a container can hold.
- Kilogram (kg) — 1000 grams.
- Gram (g) — Used for light things.
- Estimate — A sensible rough value.
- Balance — A tool used to compare and measure weight.
Remember
- 1 kg = 1000 g; 1 L = 1000 mL.
- Weight → kg/g; capacity → L/mL.
- Convert to one unit before calculating.
- Estimate first, then measure.
Exam Tip / Common Mistake
Common mistake: adding 2 kg and 500 g as 502 or 7. Convert first: 2 kg 500 g = 2500 g.
Chart / Table: Everyday weights and capacities
| Thing | About |
|---|---|
| One apple | 150 g |
| School bag | 4 kg |
| One glass of water | 200 mL |
| One bucket | 10 L |
Think and try
Hold a 1 kg bag of rice in one hand and a small book in the other. Which feels heavier? Now guess the book's weight in grams. Why is guessing weight harder than guessing length?
Practice set — try it yourself
- Convert 3 kg 250 g into grams.
Hint: 3 × 1000, then add 250. - A bottle holds 750 mL. How many mL do 2 bottles hold?
Hint: Multiply. - Which is heavier: 2 kg of rice or 1800 g of wheat?
Hint: Convert to the same unit. - A tank holds 50 L. If 18 L are used, how much is left?
Hint: Subtract. - Estimate the weight of your school bag in kg, then check on a scale.
Hint: Estimate first!
How to use this page: Read the summary, say the Key Terms in your own words, then try the practice set without looking. Ask your teacher or parent to check your answers.