Which of the following is the basic unit of volume in the metric system?

• A. cubic centimeter (cm^3)
• B. liter (L)
• C. milliliter (mL)
• D. cubic meter (m^3)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the metric system uses specific units for measuring volume, which are based on the meter, the fundamental unit of length.
2. Recall that volume is a measure of the amount of space an object occupies, and in the metric system, volume units are derived from cubic measurements of length units.
3. Recognize that the cubic meter (\(m^3\)) is the volume of a cube that measures 1 meter on each side, making it the basic SI unit of volume.
4. Note that other units like the liter (L), milliliter (mL), and cubic centimeter (cm\(^3\)) are derived units based on the cubic meter, where 1 liter equals 0.001 cubic meters and 1 cubic centimeter equals 0.000001 cubic meters.
5. Conclude that among the options, the cubic meter (\(m^3\)) is the fundamental or basic unit of volume in the metric system, while the others are convenient derived units.