A cubic foot is a unit of volume in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It is defined as the volume of a cube with sides of one foot in length. The symbol for the cubic foot is ft3 or cu ft.
Key Facts
- Dimensions: A cubic foot is made up of three dimensions – length, width, and height – that all equal 1 foot.
- Calculation: To calculate the volume of a cubic foot, you need to multiply the three dimensions together. For example, a box that is 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches high would be equal to 1 cubic foot.
- Conversion: A cubic foot is equivalent to 1728 cubic inches, 1/27 of a cubic yard, 0.028316846592 cubic meters, or 28.316846592 liters.
- Symbol and Abbreviations: The IEEE symbol for the cubic foot is ft3. Other abbreviations used include cu ft, cu.ft, cb ft, cbft, and ft/-3.
- Usage in Commerce and Industry: Larger multiples of the cubic foot, such as CCF, MCF, MMCF, BCF, and TCF, are commonly used in commerce and industry, particularly in the oil and gas industry.
- Flow Rates: The cubic foot per second (ft3/s) is used to measure the flow or discharge of rivers, while the cubic foot per minute (ft3/min) is used to measure the amount of air being delivered in carburetors, pneumatic tools, and air-compressor systems.
- Standard Cubic Foot: A standard cubic foot (scf) is a measure of quantity of gas defined in terms of standard temperature and pressure.
Dimensions and Calculation
A cubic foot is made up of three dimensions: length, width, and height. To calculate the volume of a cubic foot, you need to multiply the three dimensions together. For example, a box that is 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches high would be equal to 1 cubic foot.
Conversion
A cubic foot is equivalent to:
- 1728 cubic inches
- 1/27 of a cubic yard
- 0.028316846592 cubic meters
- 28.316846592 liters
Symbol and Abbreviations
The IEEE symbol for the cubic foot is ft3. Other abbreviations used include cu ft, cu.ft, cb ft, cbft, and ft/-3.
Usage in Commerce and Industry
Larger multiples of the cubic foot, such as CCF, MCF, MMCF, BCF, and TCF, are commonly used in commerce and industry, particularly in the oil and gas industry. These multiples represent:
- CCF (Centum cubic feet): 100 cubic feet
- MCF (Mille cubic feet): 1000 cubic feet
- MMCF (Mille mille cubic feet): 1000000 cubic feet
- BCF (Billion cubic feet): 1000000000 cubic feet
- TCF (Trillion cubic feet): 1000000000000 cubic feet
Flow Rates
The cubic foot per second (ft3/s) is used to measure the flow or discharge of rivers. It is defined as the volume of water passing a location per unit of time.
The cubic foot per minute (ft3/min) is used to measure the amount of air being delivered in carburetors, pneumatic tools, and air-compressor systems.
Standard Cubic Foot
A standard cubic foot (scf) is a measure of quantity of gas defined in terms of standard temperature and pressure. Standard temperature is typically defined as 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.56 degrees Celsius) and standard pressure is typically defined as 14.7 pounds per square inch (101.325 kilopascals).
Conclusion
The cubic foot is a unit of volume that is used in a variety of applications, from measuring the volume of a box to measuring the flow rate of a river. It is an important unit of measurement in the imperial and US customary systems.
References
FAQs
What is a cubic foot?
A cubic foot is a unit of volume in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It is defined as the volume of a cube with sides of one foot in length.
How do you calculate the volume of a cubic foot?
To calculate the volume of a cubic foot, you need to multiply the three dimensions (length, width, and height) together. For example, a box that is 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches high would be equal to 1 cubic foot.
What is the symbol for a cubic foot?
The IEEE symbol for a cubic foot is ft3. Other abbreviations used include cu ft, cu.ft, cb ft, cbft, and ft/-3.
What are some common multiples of a cubic foot used in commerce and industry?
Larger multiples of the cubic foot, such as CCF, MCF, MMCF, BCF, and TCF, are commonly used in commerce and industry, particularly in the oil and gas industry. These multiples represent:
- CCF (Centum cubic feet): 100 cubic feet
- MCF (Mille cubic feet): 1000 cubic feet
- MMCF (Mille mille cubic feet): 1000000 cubic feet
- BCF (Billion cubic feet): 1000000000 cubic feet
- TCF (Trillion cubic feet): 1000000000000 cubic feet
What is a cubic foot per second?
A cubic foot per second (ft3/s) is used to measure the flow or discharge of rivers. It is defined as the volume of water passing a location per unit of time.
What is a cubic foot per minute?
A cubic foot per minute (ft3/min) is used to measure the amount of air being delivered in carburetors, pneumatic tools, and air-compressor systems.
What is a standard cubic foot?
A standard cubic foot (scf) is a measure of quantity of gas defined in terms of standard temperature and pressure. Standard temperature is typically defined as 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.56 degrees Celsius) and standard pressure is typically defined as 14.7 pounds per square inch (101.325 kilopascals).
Where is the cubic foot commonly used?
The cubic foot is commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is also used in some other countries, but it is not as common as the cubic meter, which is the SI unit of volume.