Half-Pan Water Capacity

A half pan measures roughly 12 inches by 10 inches, and its capacity depends on the depth of the pan. The capacity of a pan is the volume of liquid it can hold, and this is usually measured in millilitres or fluid ounces. The capacity of a half pan with a depth of 2 inches is approximately 128 cubic inches or 64 fluid ounces, which is equivalent to 8 cups. In millilitres, a half pan with a capacity of 2ml can hold around 2ml of water.

A half pan holds around 2ml of water

Half pans are compatible with most travel watercolour tins, cases, and boxes on the market. They are also often magnetic, which helps to hold them in place in your travel palette. This allows you to quickly move your colours into different configurations and layouts.

A half pan will hold around a quarter of a 5ml tube of paint, or one-seventh of a 15ml tube. This makes refilling your half pan with paint from a tube a very cost-effective option compared to buying pan refills.

When deciding between half pans and full pans, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Full pans are better for those who use large brushes, as it is easier to load the brush with paint and cover a larger area. However, half pans are a good option for those who paint with small to medium-sized brushes and want to travel light.

A full pan measures roughly 12 x 20 inches

The volume of a pan is determined by its dimensions, specifically its length, width, and depth. To calculate the volume of a pan, one must first measure its length, width, and depth in inches. Then, the appropriate formula can be applied to calculate the volume in cubic inches or gallons.

The volume of a rectangular pan can be calculated by multiplying its length, width, and depth. For example, if a full pan measures 12 inches in length, 20 inches in width, and 2 inches in depth, the volume would be 240 cubic inches or 0.95 gallons.

It is important to note that the capacity of a pan is different from its volume. Capacity refers to how much liquid or food the pan can hold, while volume includes the space occupied by the pan itself. To determine the capacity of a pan, one must subtract the volume of the pan from the total volume of the container.

In addition to standard food pans, there are also specialty pans available, such as sauté pans and frying pans. These pans have different dimensions and features, such as lids or additional handles. When measuring the size of a frying pan, it is important to measure from one top side to the other, rather than the bottom of the pan.

The volume of a pan can be calculated using its radius and height

First, let's consider the radius. This is the distance from the centre of the pan's circular base to its edge. To calculate the radius, you can measure the diameter, which is the distance from one side of the pan's base to the other, passing through the centre, and then divide that number by two.

Next, we need to determine the height of the pan. This is the distance from the base of the pan to its top rim.

With these two measurements, you can calculate the volume of the pan using the formula for the volume of a cylinder: volume = π × radius^2 × height. Here, π (pi) is a mathematical constant, approximately equal to 3.14159.

Now, let's apply this to a half pan. A half pan typically measures 12 inches by 10 inches. If we assume it has a standard shape, we can calculate its volume. First, we find the radius, which is half of the diameter, so 12 inches divided by 2, which equals 6 inches. Next, we need the height of the pan. While exact values may vary, standard food pan depths include 2, 4, 6, and 8 inches.

Using these values, we can calculate the volume of a half pan with a height of 2 inches: volume = π × 6^2 × 2, which is approximately 235 cubic inches or 3.84 litres.

For a deeper half pan with a height of 4 inches, the volume would be: volume = π × 6^2 × 4, which is approximately 471 cubic inches or 7.76 litres.

These calculations demonstrate how the volume of a pan can be determined using its radius and height. The specific dimensions and resulting volume will vary depending on the type of half pan and the manufacturer, but this method provides a general framework for estimating the volume of various pans.

A pan's volume can also be determined by filling it with water and measuring

A pan's volume can be determined by filling it with water and measuring. This method is especially useful for pans with complicated shapes, like Bundt pans or shaped cake pans. Here are the steps to determine the volume of a pan using the water displacement method:

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You will need a pan, water, a measuring cup, and a pen and paper for recording measurements.

Step 2: Fill the Pan with Water

Start by filling the pan with water. You can do this by slowly pouring water into the pan, being careful not to overflow.

Step 3: Transfer Water to the Measuring Cup

Once the pan is filled to the brim, carefully transfer the water from the pan to a measuring cup. You may need to do this in several batches, recording the amount of water transferred after each batch.

Step 4: Record the Volume

After you have transferred all the water from the pan to the measuring cup, record the final volume. This will give you the volume of your pan.

Example Calculation

Let's say you have a half pan with dimensions of 12 inches by 10 inches. You fill the pan with water and then transfer the water to a measuring cup, recording the volume. The volume of water in the measuring cup is the same as the volume of your half pan.

For example, if it took 64 fluid ounces of water to fill the half pan, then the volume of the pan is 64 fluid ounces, or 8 cups. This is the same as saying the pan has a volume of 1.89 litres (as there are 237 millilitres in a cup, or 8 x 237 = 1894 millilitres, or rounded up, 1.89 litres).

Alternatively, you can use the formula: volume = length x width x height. So, for a half pan with dimensions of 12 inches by 10 inches, the volume is: 12 x 10 x height. If the height of the water in the measuring cup is 2 inches, then: 12 x 10 x 2 = 240 cubic inches. This is the same as 14,640 cubic centimetres (as there are 2.54 centimetres in an inch, or 240 / 2.54 = 14,640).

Tips and Tricks

• It is important to measure the inside dimensions of the pan, excluding the thickness of the pan walls.
• When measuring the depth of the pan, place the ruler straight up from the bottom of the pan without slanting it.
• If your pan has slanted sides, the calculations will be more complicated, and it is easier to just measure the water displacement.
• For very large pans, you can use a digital kitchen scale to weigh the water and then convert the weight to volume, as 1 millilitre of water weighs 1 gram.

Different pans have different capacities

A full pan measures roughly 12 inches by 20 inches and is often used for cooking large batches of food. A two-thirds pan is about 12 inches by 13 and a third inches, while a half pan is roughly 12 inches by 10 inches. As the name suggests, a third pan is a third of a full-size pan, measuring 12 inches by 6 and a third inches. A quarter pan is 6 inches by 10 inches, and a sixth pan is 6 inches by 6 and a third inches. The smallest of the standard steam table pan sizes is the ninth pan, measuring 4 inches by 6 and a third inches.

The capacity of a pan is typically measured in millilitres (ml) or fluid ounces. A half pan, for example, has a capacity of around 2ml. This means that a 5ml tube of paint can fill it 2.5 times, while a 15ml tube can fill it 7.5 times.

The capacity of a pan is also influenced by its shape. Pans can be rectangular, round, oval, or odd-shaped, like Bundt pans or shaped cake pans. The capacity of rectangular pans can be calculated by multiplying the width by the length by the depth. Round pans require multiplying the radius by itself and then by pi, and for oval pans, you multiply half the length by half the width and then by pi. For odd-shaped pans, the most accurate way to calculate capacity is to fill the pan with water and measure how much it holds.

Different types of pans also have different capacities. Sauté pans, for instance, have deep sides and range in capacity from 1 to 7 quarts. Skillets, on the other hand, have gently sloping sides no higher than 2-3 inches and do not usually have a lid. Dutch ovens are another type of pan with a capacity ranging from 1 to 12 quarts, and sauciers typically hold between 1 and 6 quarts.

The material of the pan can also affect its capacity. For example, plastic pans typically have at least 5% less volume than stainless steel pans. Additionally, the dimensions of pans can vary slightly between different manufacturers, so it is always a good idea to measure the capacity of your pan if you are unsure.

Frequently asked questions