Basic unit of volume in metric system?

Answer 1

In the International System of Units (SI), the metre (American spelling: meter) is the base unit of length. Since volume is based on length × width × height, the basic unit of volume is based on the volume of a cube with sides of 1 m.

1 m × 1 m × 1 m = 1 m³ (cubic metre)

However, in common usage, the cubic metre is too big for most needs. The litre (American spelling: liter) is defined as 1 cubic decimetre. A decimetre (dm) is 0.1 m (or 10 cm). That is, the volume of a cube with sides of 10 cm.

A litre has the symbol: L

1 L = 1 dm × 1 dm × 1 dm

= 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm

= 1000 cm³ (cubic centimetre)

This also means that the cubic centimetre is equal to 1 millilitre (mL). There are 1000 litres in a cubic metre, meaning that 1 cubic metre is equal to 1 kilolitre (kL). That is:

1 mL = 1 cm³

1 L = 1 dm³

1 kL = 1 m³

For American readers, a liter is slightly larger than a quart.

Answer 2

The basic unit of volume in the metric system is the liter (L).