What is Litres Per 100km? | Simple Explanation for Class 5-10

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What is Litres Per 100km (Fuel Consumption)?

Grade Level:

Class 5

Physics, Transport, Climate, India, Computing

Definition

What is it?

Litres Per 100km (L/100km) is a way to measure how much fuel a vehicle uses to travel a certain distance. It tells you how many litres of petrol or diesel your car or bike needs to go 100 kilometres. The smaller the L/100km number, the more fuel-efficient the vehicle is.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your school bus travels from your home to school and back, a total of 100 km. If the bus uses 10 litres of diesel for this entire journey, its fuel consumption is 10 L/100km. If another bus uses only 8 litres for the same 100 km, it's more fuel-efficient.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

PROBLEM: A family is going on a road trip from Delhi to Agra. Their car travels 250 km and uses 20 litres of petrol. What is the car's fuel consumption in L/100km?

STEP 1: Identify the total distance travelled. Distance = 250 km.
---STEP 2: Identify the total fuel used. Fuel Used = 20 litres.
---STEP 3: We want to find out how much fuel is used for 100 km. First, find fuel used per 1 km.
Fuel per 1 km = Total Fuel Used / Total Distance = 20 litres / 250 km = 0.08 litres/km.
---STEP 4: Now, multiply the fuel per 1 km by 100 to find fuel per 100 km.
Fuel per 100 km = 0.08 litres/km * 100 km = 8 litres.
---ANSWER: The car's fuel consumption is 8 L/100km.

Why It Matters

Understanding L/100km helps you choose vehicles that save money on fuel and reduce pollution, which is good for our planet. People like car designers, transport managers, and even app developers for ride-sharing services use this concept to make better decisions about vehicles and routes.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking a higher L/100km number means better fuel efficiency. | CORRECTION: A lower L/100km number means the vehicle uses less fuel to travel the same distance, so it's more fuel-efficient.

MISTAKE: Directly dividing 100 by the fuel used for a different distance without scaling. | CORRECTION: Always calculate fuel per 1 km first, then multiply by 100 to get L/100km, or use a proportion: (Fuel Used / Distance Travelled) = (X litres / 100 km).

MISTAKE: Confusing L/100km with 'kilometres per litre' (kmpl). | CORRECTION: L/100km tells you 'how many litres for 100 km', while kmpl tells you 'how many km for 1 litre'. They are inverse measurements.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: A scooter travels 50 km and uses 1 litre of petrol. What is its fuel consumption in L/100km? | ANSWER: 2 L/100km

QUESTION: A truck uses 30 litres of diesel to travel 150 km. What is its fuel consumption in L/100km? | ANSWER: 20 L/100km

QUESTION: Your dad's car shows a fuel consumption of 12 L/100km. If you need to travel 350 km, how much petrol will you need? | ANSWER: 42 litres

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these cars is the most fuel-efficient?

Car A: 15 L/100km

Car B: 10 L/100km

Car C: 20 L/100km

Car D: 8 L/100km

The Correct Answer Is:

The most fuel-efficient car is the one that uses the least amount of fuel to travel 100 km. Car D uses only 8 litres for 100 km, which is the lowest number among the options.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you buy a new car or bike in India, the manufacturer often advertises its fuel efficiency in kmpl or L/100km. Apps like Google Maps or Ola/Uber might use this data to estimate fuel costs for your journey. Even government policies on vehicle emissions are related to these fuel consumption numbers.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

FUEL CONSUMPTION: How much fuel a vehicle uses to travel a certain distance. | LITRE: A unit for measuring liquid volume, like petrol. | KILOMETRE: A unit for measuring distance, equal to 1000 metres. | FUEL EFFICIENCY: How well a vehicle uses fuel; more efficient means less fuel for the same distance.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand L/100km, you can explore 'Kilometres Per Litre (kmpl)' and learn how it relates. You can also learn about how different driving styles affect fuel consumption and how to calculate total fuel costs for a trip!