Mahtuvus

Mahtuvus is an Estonian term that refers to the capacity or space available inside a container, as well as the amount of space that an object or region can hold. In everyday language, mahtuvus most often describes how much a vessel can contain, for example the mahtuvus of a bottle or a tank. In scientific and geometric contexts, the term can describe the internal volume of a solid or the space that a substance can occupy, typically referred to as volume.

Units and measurements: The standard SI unit of volume is the cubic meter (m^3). In practice, liters (L) and milliliters (mL) are commonly used for liquids and containers; 1 dm^3 equals 1 L, and 1 m^3 equals 1000 L. Volume can be expressed in cubic units such as m^3, dm^3, or cm^3 (where 1 cm^3 is 1 mL).

Calculation and methods: For regular shapes, capacity can be calculated from dimensions (for a rectangular box, V = length × width × height; for a cylinder, V = π r^2 h). For irregular objects, volume can be determined by water displacement or by 3D measurement methods. The concept is closely linked to density, since mass equals density times mahtuvus when the material is uniform.

Etymology and usage: The word mahtuvus derives from the Estonian word maht (bulk or extent) and conveys the idea of how much a container can hold or how much space an object occupies. See also volume, capacity, and the liter as a practical unit for liquids.