Summary
Chapter 8 of the Class 5 Mathematics NCERT textbook (Maths Mela), "Weight and Capacity", teaches students to read weighing scales, convert between milligrams, grams, kilograms, quintals, and tonnes, and to measure capacity in millilitres and litres — download the PDF to find practice problems on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of weights and volumes in real-life contexts.
- Reading Weighing Scales and Units of Weight — Students practise reading different types of weighing scales and learn that 1 kg equals 1,000 g, 100 kg equals 1 quintal, and 1,000 kg equals 1 tonne. They match bags shown on two balances — one in kilograms, one in grams — to understand that different units can express the same measure.
- Milligrams and Very Small Weights — The chapter introduces milligrams (mg) for tiny objects such as ant weights (1–5 mg) and gold ornaments. The conversion is 1 g = 1,000 mg, so a 4 g 100 mg ornament equals 4,100 mg — the same relationship as kilograms to grams.
- Adding and Subtracting Weights — Using a grocery-store context, students add and subtract compound weights such as 2 kg 500 g + 1 kg 750 g = 4 kg 250 g. The chapter shows three equivalent strategies: mental regrouping, column addition in kg and g separately, and converting everything to grams first.
- Multiplying and Dividing Weights — Students learn to multiply a compound weight (e.g., 4 x 10 kg 500 g = 42 kg) and divide equally (e.g., 4 kg 800 g divided into 4 boxes gives 1 kg 200 g each) by treating kg and g separately or converting to grams.
- Measuring Capacity: Litres and Millilitres — Capacity is measured in litres (l) and millilitres (ml), with 1 l = 1,000 ml. Real-life problems involve water bottles, milk deliveries, petrol pumps, and juice vendors, with addition and subtraction of capacities following the same column or conversion strategies used for weight.
Key points & formulas
- 011 kg = 1,000 g; 100 kg = 1 quintal; 10 quintals = 1 tonne (1,000 kg = 1 tonne).
- 021 g = 1,000 mg — milligrams measure very light objects like ants (1–5 mg) and gold ornaments.
- 03Weights in mixed units (e.g., 3 kg 500 g) can be converted fully to grams (3,500 g) for calculation.
- 04Addition and subtraction of compound weights can be done by regrouping kg and g separately or by converting to grams — both give the same answer.
- 05Multiplication of weights: multiply kg and g parts separately, then combine (e.g., 4 x 10 kg 500 g = 40 kg + 2,000 g = 42 kg).
- 061 l = 1,000 ml; capacity problems use the same conversion and column strategies as weight problems.
- 07Real-life word problems in the chapter cover grocery shopping, baking, petrol pumps, milk delivery, and community kitchens.
Frequently asked questions
01What are the two main topics covered in Chapter 8 of Class 5 Maths Mela?
Chapter 8 covers Weight and Capacity, teaching students how to measure, convert, compare, and perform arithmetic operations on quantities of weight (using mg, g, kg, quintal, and tonne) and liquid capacity (using ml and l).
02How many grams are equal to 1 kilogram?
1 kilogram (kg) is equal to 1,000 grams (g). So to convert kilograms to grams, you multiply the number of kilograms by 1,000.
03How do you convert a weight like 3 kg 500 g into grams?
First convert the kilograms: 3 kg = 3,000 g. Then add the remaining grams: 3,000 g + 500 g = 3,500 g. The chapter shows this with the example of Shrenu measuring flour for her cake shop.
04What is a milligram and what kinds of objects are measured in milligrams?
1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams (mg). Very light objects such as ants (which weigh between 1 mg and 5 mg), medicine ingredients, and gold ornaments are measured in milligrams.
05What is a quintal and how does it relate to kilograms and tonnes?
100 kg equals 1 quintal, 10 quintals equal 1 tonne, and 1,000 kg also equal 1 tonne. These larger units are used for very heavy items like sacks of grain.
06How do you add weights given in kilograms and grams, like 2 kg 500 g plus 1 kg 750 g?
The chapter shows that you can add the kg and g parts separately: 2 kg + 1 kg = 3 kg and 500 g + 750 g = 1,250 g = 1 kg 250 g, giving a total of 4 kg 250 g. You can also convert both to grams (2,500 g + 1,750 g = 4,250 g) and get the same answer.
07How do you multiply a weight, for example finding the total weight of 4 potato sacks each weighing 10 kg 500 g?
You multiply the kg and g parts separately: 4 x 10 kg = 40 kg and 4 x 500 g = 2,000 g = 2 kg. Adding them gives 42 kg total. You can also convert to grams first (10,500 g x 4 = 42,000 g = 42 kg).
08How many millilitres are equal to 1 litre?
1 litre (l) is equal to 1,000 millilitres (ml). This is the key conversion for capacity, just as 1 kg = 1,000 g is the key conversion for weight.
09How would you convert 1 l 400 ml into millilitres?
1 l = 1,000 ml, so 1 l 400 ml = 1,000 ml + 400 ml = 1,400 ml. The chapter uses this exact example and confirms 1,400 ml is the correct answer, not 1,040 ml.
10In the petrol pump problem, how much petrol did Sam buy if Tina bought 2 l 500 ml and Sam bought 2 l 800 ml more than Tina?
Sam bought 2 l 500 ml + 2 l 800 ml = 5 l 300 ml of petrol. The chapter shows this by adding like quantities (litres with litres, ml with ml) and converting 1,300 ml to 1 l 300 ml.
11How much fuel did Sam's bike have before refuelling, if after adding 5 l 300 ml the gauge read 9 l?
The bike had 9 l minus 5 l 300 ml = 3 l 700 ml before refuelling. The chapter solves this by borrowing 1 l = 1,000 ml during subtraction, or equivalently as 9,000 ml minus 5,300 ml = 3,700 ml.
12Why is it wrong to say a bucket can hold a maximum of 20 ml of water?
The chapter points out that 20 ml is far too small a unit for a bucket; litres should be used instead. Millilitres are suitable for small quantities like cups of tea, while litres are used for larger containers such as buckets.
More chapters in Maths Mela
Read Chapter 8 of Maths Mela, the Class 5 Mathematics NCERT textbook (2026-27 edition), online for free: the complete chapter as published by NCERT with every diagram, solved example and exercise, with step-by-step solutions, answers and revision notes. Open the NCERT PDF above, or browse all NCERT Class 5 textbooks.
Read offline with notes, solutions & mock tests
CBSE Prepmaster — free on iOS & Android