Properties of Soil

A sieve is a container with very small holes in the bottom that are all the same size.

What would this tool be useful for?

• Sorting soil by particle size

• Finding the mass of soil

• Growing plants in soil

• Determining soil color

Students tested the capacity of a soil to retain water. They poured 200 mL of water through a funnel holding the soil. How many milliliters of water was retained by the soil sample?

Students planted 12 bean seeds in each of four different soil samples. The students kept all other conditions the same, grew them for 15 days and recorded the results.

Which soil sample produced the tallest plants?

• Sample A

• Sample B

• Sample C

• Sample D

Students are comparing samples of different soils to the bars on a chart their teacher gave them.

What property of soil are they are trying to determine using this chart?

• Size

• Texture

• Color

• Shape

If students are investigating the texture of different soil samples, what would be the best procedure to follow?

• Moisten the samples and rub them with their fingers

• Attempt to grow plants in each soil sample

• Pour water into each of the soil samples

• Compare each of the samples with a color chart

What does it mean for soil to retain water?

• Soil retaining water means that it has the ability to hold and store water within its structure.
• Soil retaining water means it releases water into the atmosphere
• Soil retaining water means it repels water and does not absorb it
• Soil retaining water means it filters water and removes impurities

What is topsoil?

• Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5-10 inches, where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs.
• Topsoil is a type of rock found on the surface of the Earth

How should a student conduct an investigation to find the best soil to grow a carrot? The student should place carrot seeds in several containers, all with

• the same type of soil, and the same amount of light and water

• different kinds of soil, and the same amount of light and water

• different kinds of soil, and different amounts of light and water

• the same type of soil, and different amounts of light or water

Which property of soil could students determine by rubbing a sample between their fingers?

• The texture of the soil

• The soil’s ability to support life

• The color of the soil

• The processes that formed the soil

Students are placing different soil samples in front of a fan to see which kind of soil is moved most easily by wind.

What piece of safety equipment would be most important during this investigation?

• Fire extinguisher

• Gloves

• Goggles

•