Properties of Soil

A students places different samples of soils in 5 different cups with a whole at the bottom. They place another cup right below each cup and pour water into the top cup. The student then measures the time it takes for the water to begin to drip from the bottom of each cup.

What property is the student most likely testing with this procedure?

• The differences of texture between wet and dry soils.

• How well different soils retain water.

• How much water is needed to dissolve different soils.

• The amount of time it takes different soils to dry.

A student investigates the properties of soil. The student observes samples of common soils. In one of the samples, the student notices that water drains through the soil very easily. The soil also feels rough and scratchy, and its particles feel hard. Which soil is the student most likely observing?

• Clay

• Sand

• Loam

• Silt

to use wisely, without waste; protect from destruction

• Conserve

• Humus

• Soil

• Deposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

a mixture of decaying organic material, weathered rock, water, mineral fragments, and air that takes thousands of years to develop

• Conserve

• Humus

• Soil

• Deposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

material in the soil formed from decayed plants and animals

• Conserve

• Humus

• Soil

• Deposition

process by which

weathered and eroded

material is deposited by

wind, water, and ice

• Conserve

• Humus

• Soil

• Deposition

the movement of

weathered material by

wind, water, or ice (e.g.

glaciers)

• Erosion

• Humus

• Soil

• Weathering

process by which

exposed rock is broken

down by rain, frost,

wind, or other elements

of weather

• Erosion

• Humus

• Soil

• Weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Soil that is made from decaying plant and animal matter is -

• humus

• loam

• silt

• clay

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What properties of soil best support the growth of plants? Select two.

• Soil that retain all of the water.

• Soil that is dark in color.

• Soil that contain some of the water.

• Soil that is light in color.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5