FAA Aviation Mechanic General (AMG)Physics, Math and Fluid LinesHard

A rectangular hydraulic fluid tank measures 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. Approximately how many gallons does the tank hold when full (1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons)?

  1. A22.4 gallons
  2. B7.5 gallons
  3. C3.0 gallons
  4. D44.9 gallons
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. 22.4 gallons

Convert dimensions to feet: 2 ft × 1.5 ft × 1 ft = 3 cubic feet. Then convert to gallons: 3 ft³ × 7.48 gal/ft³ = 22.44 gallons.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. Simply restates the conversion factor without applying tank volume.
  • C. Correct cubic footage but forgets to convert to gallons.
  • D. Results from doubling the correct volume in gallons.

Volume-to-Gallon Conversion

To convert a tank's cubic volume to gallons, calculate volume in cubic feet and multiply by 7.48 gallons per cubic foot.

  • 1 cubic foot = 7.48 U.S. gallons
  • Convert all dimensions to feet before calculating volume
  • Volume of rectangular tank = length × width × height
  • Common in fuel and hydraulic reservoir sizing problems

Memory trick: Feet cubed times 7.48 turns a box into gallons.

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