Water Affects Soil

A student conducts an investigation using four identical bottles, each with a hole in the bottom. The student fills each can with a different type of soil and then adds 200 milliliters (ML) out of water to each bottle. The beakers below show the amount of water that drains through the soil and out the bottom of each can. Some plants have roots that reach very deep underground. Which type of soil will most likely stop water from flowing to the deepest roots of these plants?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Three soil samples were tested to see how much water each could hold. The same amount of water was added to each funnel of soil. Very few plants would probably grow in the clay because the water would —

• fail to reach the roots of the plants

• become too cloudy

• run through the soil too quickly

• become poisonous to the plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A student wants to find out which type of soil holds the most water. He uses four identical pots with holes in the bottom. He fills each pot with a different type of soil and waters the pots with the same amount of water. How can he find out how much water stays in the soil in each pot?

• By planting seeds and measuring plant growth in each pot

• By measuring the amount of water that drains from each pot

• By observing which soil looks wettest after the water has been added to the pots

• By feeling the soil before and after adding water to each pot

The pictures show a method used to collect data in an investigation. Different kinds of materials were mixed with 100 grams of garden soil. An equal amount of water was added to each mixture. Which of these was this investigation designed to answer?

• How well each material mixes with garden soil

• How well each mixture holds water

• How well each material supports plants

• How well each mixture keeps its texture when wet

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Similar containers were filled with different types of soil. Holes were poked into the bottom of each container, and 300 milliliters of water were added. The water that dripped out was collected and measured. According to the information in the table, which type of soil retained water best?

• Potting soil

• Sandy soil

• Gravel

• Clay

Some students added 500 milliliters of water to equal amounts of four different samples of soil. In this investigation, which sample of soil held the most water?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which of the following soils would be best for growing bean plants?

• Sandy soil with big rocks

• Loam that contains humus

• Gravel and rocky soil

• Clay soil that contains sand

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which of the following types of soil will be the hardest for plants to grow in?

• Sandy soil that retains a great deal of water

• Loam that contains humus and drains well

• Topsoil that drains well and contains nutrients

• Potting soil that is designed to improve plant growth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Plants grow very well in topsoil because it is very rich. All of these processes help form the rich topsoil EXCEPT—

• ocean tides

• decay of organisms

• weathering of rocks

• erosion from wind and water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Four soil samples of equal volume were put in funnels with filter paper. 200 mL of water was added to each sample and the water that flowed out the bottom of the funnel was collected and measured. What can you determine about the soil samples from the data?

• Soil sample R retained the most water

• Soil sample T was the driest soil

• Soil sample Q has more organic matter

• Soil sample S was about half sand

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3