Question

An automobile engine is $355-\mathrm{in}{.}^3$. Express the volume in liters.

Short answer

The volume of the engine is approximately 5.816 liters.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Conversion Factor

First, identify the conversion factor between cubic inches and liters. The conversion factor is 1 cubic inch equals 0.0163871 liters.

Set Up the Conversion Equation

To convert cubic inches to liters, multiply the volume in cubic inches by the conversion factor: $$V_{liters}=V_{cubicinches}\times 0.0163871$$ In this exercise, $V_{cubicinches}=355$.

Perform the Calculation

Substitute 355 for $V_{cubicinches}$ in the equation and calculate: $$V_{liters}=355\times 0.0163871$$ Calculate the product to find the volume in liters.

Calculate the Result

Using a calculator, multiply the values: $$355\times 0.0163871=5.816$$ Thus, 355 cubic inches is equivalent to approximately 5.816 liters.

Key concepts

Cubic Inches to Liters

Cubic inches and liters measure volume, but they belong to different measurement systems.
Cubic inches are part of the imperial system commonly used in the United States, while liters belong to the metric system, which is widely used worldwide.
Understanding how to convert between these units is crucial for many practical applications, especially when dealing with specifications for engines, containers, or any object that defines its capacity in volume. In the exercise, we have the engine's volume provided in cubic inches (355 in³), which we want to express in liters.
To make this conversion, the key element is using the correct conversion factor.
The conversion factor between cubic inches and liters is provided as 1 cubic inch equals 0.0163871 liters.
This small number results from the large ratio between these units, reflecting that a single cubic inch contains much less physical space than a liter.

Volume Conversion

Understanding volume conversion is essential for many fields such as science, engineering, and everyday life.
Volumes can be expressed in a range of units, depending on context, usage, and locality.Performing a volume conversion involves understanding the relationship between the units in question.
To convert 355 cubic inches to liters, you use the formula:

• Identify the volume in the current unit, here it's cubic inches.
• Determine the appropriate conversion factor.
• Apply the conversion formula: $$V_{liters}=V_{cubicinches}\times 0.0163871$$

The result of this operation gives the equivalent volume in liters.
Such conversions allow standardized communication and usage across different systems of measurement.

Conversion Factor

A conversion factor is a crucial element in converting from one unit to another.
It is a numerical value that forms the bridge between two different units of measurement, enabling the conversion process. In the exercise, the conversion factor we utilized was $0.0163871$, which links cubic inches to liters.
This factor represents how much space one cubic inch occupies in liters.When performing unit conversions:

• Ensure you have the correct conversion factor. For cubic inches to liters, it's always 0.0163871.
• Multiply the original measurement by this factor to achieve the converted measurement.

This systematic approach simplifies converting volumes across different systems, allowing accuracy and consistency across diverse tasks or builds, particularly when international measurements are involved.