Convert Gallons to Cubic Feet

Gallon

Definition: A gallon (symbol: gal) is a unit of volume in imperial and US customary measurement systems. The US liquid gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches (3.785 liters), while the imperial gallon used in the UK and some Commonwealth countries is defined as 4.54609 liters.

History/origin: The gallon originated as an English unit of measurement for wine and beer. Various gallons were used throughout Europe with varying sizes. The word "gallon" comes from the Old Northern French word "galon," meaning a liquid measure.

In 1824, the British adopted the imperial gallon, defined as the volume of 10 pounds of water at 62°F. The United States continued to use the pre-1824 British wine gallon (the Queen Anne's gallon of 231 cubic inches). This difference in definition leads to the distinction between the US gallon and the imperial gallon that persists today.

Current use: The US gallon is primarily used in the United States and some Latin American and Caribbean countries. It's commonly used for measuring gasoline, milk, and other liquids. The imperial gallon is still used in the United Kingdom for some purposes (though the UK has officially adopted the liter for most applications), as well as in some Commonwealth countries.

Smaller divisions of the gallon include quarts (4 per gallon), pints (8 per gallon), and fluid ounces (128 per US gallon, 160 per imperial gallon).

Cubic Foot

Definition: A cubic foot (symbol: ft³) is a unit of volume equal to the volume of a cube with sides one foot long.

History/origin: The cubic foot is derived from the foot, a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. The foot has been used as a unit of length for thousands of years, with varying definitions across different cultures and time periods.

Current use: The cubic foot is used in a variety of applications, including measuring volumes of materials like concrete, gravel, and other bulk substances. It is also used in the United States to measure natural gas consumption.