GCSE Mathematics  ›  M4.3 Mensuration (area, volume)

Mensuration (area, volume)

Free AQA GCSE Mathematics practice questions on Mensuration (area, volume). Sample questions below with detailed mark schemes — sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.

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Show — 4 marks

A swimming pool maintenance company needs to calculate the volume of water in a rectangular pool to determine how much chlorine treatment is needed. The pool has a length of 25 m, a width of 10 m, and a uniform depth of 2 m.

  1. Show that the volume of water in the pool is 500 m³. [2 marks]
  2. The pool is drained and refilled. During refilling, the water level rises at a rate of 0.5 m per hour. Show that it takes 4 hours to fill the pool to a depth of 2 m. [1 mark]
  3. A rectangular paddling pool next to the main pool has dimensions 8 m × 6 m × 0.8 m. Calculate the total volume of water needed to fill both pools completely. Show your working. [1 mark]
Show mark scheme
  • Correct formula used: V = length × width × depth (1 mark)
  • Correct substitution and calculation: 25 × 10 × 2 = 500 m³ (1 mark)
  • Correct calculation: 2 m ÷ 0.5 m/hour = 4 hours (1 mark)
  • Correct total volume: paddling pool volume (8 × 6 × 0.8 = 38.4 m³) added to main pool volume (500 m³) = 538.4 m³ (1 mark)

State — 5 marks

A physics laboratory is designing a cylindrical water tank to store distilled water for experiments. The tank has an internal diameter of 0.80 m and a height of 1.5 m. The laboratory manager needs to understand the tank's capacity and surface area for ordering materials and calculating water storage.

  1. State the formula for the volume of a cylinder. [1 mark]
  2. Calculate the volume of the water tank in m³. State your answer to 2 significant figures. [2 marks]
  3. The curved surface area of the cylinder is given by the formula A = 2πrh. State the curved surface area of the tank in m². State your answer to 2 significant figures. [2 marks]
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Define — 2 marks

A civil engineer is designing a cylindrical water storage tank for a small village. The tank will have a diameter of 4 metres and a height of 6 metres. Before construction begins, the engineer needs to ensure the team understands the key measurements involved.

  1. Define what is meant by the term 'volume' in the context of the water storage tank. [1 mark]
  2. Define what is meant by the term 'cross-sectional area' of the cylindrical tank. [1 mark]
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Describe — 3 marks

A manufacturer produces two cuboid storage containers. Container P has dimensions 10 cm × 6 cm × 5 cm. Container Q is mathematically similar to Container P, but each dimension is twice as long.

  1. (01.1) Describe how to calculate the volume of Container P. [1 mark]
  2. (01.2) Describe how the volume of Container Q compares to the volume of Container P. [2 marks]
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  • (01.1) Multiply the three dimensions together (10 × 6 × 5) or reference to length × width × height
  • (01.2) State that the volume of Q is 8 times the volume of P (or equivalent)
  • (01.2) Explain that doubling all three dimensions means 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 (or 2³)

Calculate — 5 marks

A rectangular water tank has a square base with side length 60 cm. The tank is initially empty and has a height of 90 cm.

  1. (01.1) Calculate the volume of the tank in cubic metres. Give your answer in standard form. [2 marks]
  2. (01.2) Water is poured into the tank to a depth of 45 cm. Calculate the total surface area of the tank that is in contact with the water. [3 marks]
Show mark scheme
  • (01.1) Volume = 0.6 × 0.6 × 0.9 or 60 × 60 × 90 seen
  • (01.1) 3.24 × 10⁻¹ m³ or equivalent
  • (01.2) Area of base = 0.6 × 0.6 = 0.36 m²
  • (01.2) Area of four sides = 4 × (0.6 × 0.45) = 1.08 m²
  • (01.2) Total surface area = 1.44 m²
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