Measures of Capacity
Measures used in telling the extent of room in vessels are called measures of capacity.
There are two kinds of capacity measures, dry measures and liquid measures.
Dry measures are used to measure grain, seeds, and the like.
Liquid measures are used to measure water, milk, oils, etc.
Common Liquid Measure Table
| 4 | gills (gi.) | = | 1 pint (pt.) |
| 2 | pints | = | 1 quart (qt.) |
| 4 | quarts | = | 1 gallon (gal.) |
| 311⁄2 | gallons | = | 1 barrel (bbl.) |
| 2 | barrels | = | 1 hogshead (hhd.) |
| Gallon | Quarts | Pints | Gills | |||
| 1 | = | 4 | = | 8 | = | 32 |
A pint, quart, or gallon, dry measure, is more than the same quantity, liquid measure; for a quart, dry measure, is 1⁄32 of a bushel, or 1⁄32 of 2150.4 cubic inches, which is about 671⁄5 cubic inches, while a quart liquid measure is 1⁄4 of 231 cubic inches, or 573⁄4 cubic inches.
| Cu. In. in 1 Gal. | Cu. In. in 1 Qt. | Cu. In. in 1 Pt. | Cu. In. in 1 Gi. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid measure | 231 | 57 | 3⁄4 | 28 | 7⁄8 | 7 | 7⁄32 | |
| Dry measure | 268 | 4⁄5 | 67 | 1⁄5 | 33 | 3⁄5 | 8 | 2⁄5 |
In determining the capacity of cisterns, reservoirs, etc., 311⁄2 gallons are considered a barrel (bbl.), and 2 barrels, or 63 gallons, a hogshead (hhd.). In commerce, however, the barrel and hogshead are not fixed measures.
Casks of large size, called tierces, pipes, butts, tuns, etc., do not hold any fixed quantity. Their capacity is usually marked upon them.
The standard gallon of the United States contains 231 cubic inches, and will hold a little over 81⁄3 pounds of distilled water. The imperial gallon, now adopted by Great Britain, contains 277.274 cubic inches, or 10 pounds of distilled water, temperature 62 degrees Fahrenheit, the barometer standing at 30 inches.
Table of Apothecaries’ Liquid Measure
These measures are used in mixing medicines.
| 60 | minims (m) | = | 1 fluid dram (fʒ) |
| 8 | fluid drams | = | 1 fluid ounce (f℥) |
| 16 | fluid ounces | = | 1 pint (O.) |
| 8 | pints | = | 1 gallon (Cong.) |
A minim is about 1 drop.
Table of Dry Measure
| 2 | pints (pt.) | = | 1 quart (qt.) |
| 8 | quarts | = | 1 peck (pk.) |
| 4 | pecks | = | 1 bushel (bu.) |
| Bushel | Pecks | Quarts | Pints | |||
| 1 | = | 4 | = | 32 | = | 64 |
A common Winchester bushel (the standard of the United States) contains 2150.42 cubic inches.
A dry quart contains 67.2 cubic inches.
A liquid quart contains 57.75 cubic inches.
Example 1: Reduce 5 bushels 2 pecks 4 quarts 1 pint to pints.
Operation:
| 4 | 8 | 2 | |
| bu. | pk. | qt. | pts. |
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | |||
| 22 | pk. | ||
| 8 | |||
| 180 | qt. | ||
| 2 | |||
| 361 | pt. | ||
Explanation: As there are 4 pecks in 1 bushel, any number of bushels is equal to 4 times that number of pecks. Then, 5 bushels = 20 pecks, and 2 pecks added make 22 pecks. As there are 8 quarts in 1 peck, any number of pecks is equal to 8 times that number of quarts. Then 22 pecks = 176 quarts, and 4 quarts added make 180 quarts. As there are 2 pints in 1 quart, any number of quarts is equal to 2 times that number of pints. Then, 180 quarts = 360 pints, and 1 pint added make 361 pints. Hence, 5 bushels 2 pecks 4 quarts 1 pint = 361 pints.
Example 2: Reduce 361 pints to bushels.
Operation:
| 2 | 361 | pt. |
| 8 | 180 | qt. + 1 pt. |
| 4 | 22 | pk. + 4 qt. |
| 5 | bu. + 2 pk. |
Explanation: As there are 2 pints in 1 quart, 361 pints are equal to one-half that number of quarts = 180 quarts, with a remainder of 1 pint. Also, 180 quarts are equal to one-eighth of that number of pecks = 22 pecks, with a remainder of 4 quarts. Finally, 22 pecks are equal to one-fourth of that number of bushels = 5 bushels, with a remainder of 2 pecks. Hence, 361 pints are equal to 5 bushels 2 pecks 4 quarts 1 pint.