Final answer:
To find the volume of milk in the vat in cubic feet, we would typically either use the dimensions of the vat to calculate it, or if given the weight and density, work from there. The volume is calculated using the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism and then converted to the desired units, being careful to adhere to the correct number of significant figures.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the volume of milk in the vat, we need the dimensions of the vat or another related measurement (like the weight and known density of milk to convert to volume). As these were not provided, we can discuss how to approach the problem instead. When measuring large liquid volumes, it is often convenient to use liters. For small amounts, milliliters or cubic centimeters are more appropriate. If we have the volume of a rectangular vat, for instance, we use the formula Volume = length × width × height. If you know the volume in cubic meters, you can convert to cubic feet by multiplying by 35.3147 ft³/m³. When performing these calculations, significant figures are important; they depend on the precision of the measurements given. According to the information, we need to limit our final answer to two significant figures if the volume quantity provided initially has two significant figures.
Let's use an example to illustrate how to calculate volume with significant figures:
Example: Assume you have a vat that is measured to be 1.20 m in length, 0.80 m in width, and 1.00 m in depth. First, calculate the volume in cubic meters: Volume = 1.20 m × 0.80 m × 1.00 m = 0.96 m³. To convert to cubic feet, you multiply by 35.3147 ft³/m³, resulting in 33.902 cubic feet. When reporting your answer, you would round to two significant figures because the initial volume has this precision, giving a final answer of 34 ft³ of milk.