Volume of a Pipe Calculator

This calculator from omnicalculator.com finds the volume of a pipe when the inner diameter and pipe length are known.

You can also change any of the units of measurement so you can convert the volume into liters or gallons or cubic cm if you wish.

The volume of a pipe is the amount of space inside it, or the amount of liquid it can hold when full.

A pipe is basically the same shape as an open cylinder. So the formula for the volume of a pipe is the same as the formula for the volume of a cylinder.

The main difference is the fact that some pipes can be quite thick, and to get an accurate result, we have to look at the inner diameter of the pipe rather than the outer diameter.

If you would like to see where the formula comes from, then we hope you will find the explanation below useful.

The volume of a pipe is the amount of space inside the pipe.

To find the amount of space inside the pipe, we need to find the area of the circular cross-section of the pipe and multiply this amount by the length of the pipe.

The area of the circular cross-section of the pipe is: \[ A = \pi r^2 \] where A is the area and r is the inner radius of the pipe.

This means that the volume of the pipe is: \[ V = \pi r^2 l \; where \; r \; is \; the \; inner \; radius \; and \; l \; is \; the \; length \; of \; the \; pipe \]

Volume of a Pipe Example 1

A pipe has an inner diameter of 5 cm and a length of 32 cm. Find the volume to 1 decimal place.

The inner diameter of the pipe is 5cm, so the inner radius is 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5 cm.

The formula for the volume of a pipe is: \[ V = \pi r^2 l \]

If we substitute the values of the radius and length into this equation, we get: \[ V = \pi \cdot 2.5^2 \cdot 32 = \pi \cdot 6.25 \cdot 32 = 200 \pi \]

This gives us a final answer of: \[ V = 628.3 \;\ cm^3 \; to \; 1 \; decimal \; place \]

Volume of a Pipe Example 2

A pipe has an inner diameter of 1.5 inches and a length of 18 inches. Find the volume to 1 decimal place.

The inner diameter of the pipe is 1.5 inches, so the inner radius is 1.5 ÷ 2 = 0.75 inches.

The formula for the volume of a pipe is: \[ V = \pi r^2 l \]

If we substitute the values of the radius and length into this equation, we get: \[ V = \pi \cdot 0.75^2 \cdot 18 = \pi \cdot 0.5625 \cdot 18 = 10.125 \pi \]

This gives us a final answer of: \[ V = 31.8 \;\ in^3 \; to \; 1 \; decimal \; place \]

Volume of a Pipe Example 3

A ½ inch thick pipe has an outer diameter of 8 inches and a length of 24 foot. Find the volume to the nearest cubic inch.

First we need to find the inner diameter of the pipe.

If the outer diameter is 8 inches and the pipe is ½ inches thick, then we need to subtract twice the thickness of the pipe from the outer diameter to find the inner diameter (see diagram below).

This gives us an inner diameter of 7 inches.

This means that the inner radius = 7 ÷ 2 = 3.5 inches

Next we need to convert the length of the pipe into inches, so that both measurement units are the same. 1 ft = 12 inches.

1 ft = 12 inches, so 24 ft = 24 x 12 = 288 inches.

The formula for the volume of a pipe is: \[ V = \pi r^2 l \]

If we substitute the values of the radius and length into this equation, we get: \[ V = \pi \cdot 3.5^2 \cdot 288 = \pi \cdot 12.25 \cdot 288 = 3528 \pi \]

This gives us a final answer of: \[ V = 11,084 \;\ in^3 \; to \; the \; nearest \; cubic \; inch \]

Volume of a Pipe Example 4

A pipe has an inner diameter of 3.2 cm and a length of 4.8 m. How many liters of water will it hold? Give your answer to 2 decimal places.

First we need to convert the length of the pipe into cm.

1 m = 100 cm. So 4.8 m = 480 cm.

The inner diameter of the pipe is 3.2 cm. This means that the inner radius = 3.2 ÷ 2 = 1.6 cm

The formula for the volume of a pipe is: \[ V = \pi r^2 l \]

If we substitute the values of the radius and length into this equation, we get: \[ V = \pi \cdot 1.6^2 \cdot 480 = \pi \cdot 2.56 \cdot 480 = 1228.8 \pi = 3860.39 cm^3 \; to \; 2 \; decimal \; places \]

Next we need to convert from cm³ into liters.

1 liter = 1000 cm³ so 3860.39 cm³ = 3.86039 liters

This gives us a final answer of: \[ V = 3.86 \; liters \; to \; 2 \; decimal \; places \]

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