3 Phases in Soil

In geotechnical engineering, soils are considered a three-phased material composed of which of the following?

• Rock or mineral particles, water and air

• Sand, clay, and silt

• Water, sand, and gravel

• Air, water, and organic matter

The water content of soil can be greater than 100%

• True

• False

Fill in the blank: The major soil solids are primary rock minerals, ranging in size from _______ to clays.

• boulders

• sand

• silt

• pebbles

The void ratio of the soil can be greater than 1

• True

• False

Which phase in soil may contain dissolved salts and other chemicals?

• Solid particles

• Liquid

• Gas

• Organic matter

Fill in the blank: The Saturated Condition has a saturation of (a)   %.

Given the relationship between void ratio and porosity: e = Vv/Vs = Vv/(V - Vv), what is the void ratio (e) in terms of porosity (n)?

• n/(1 - n)

• n/(1 + n)

• (1 - n)/n

• n * (1 - n)

What is the ratio between the mass of water (Ww) in soils to the mass of solid particles (Ws) present called?

• Water Content

• Porosity

• Bulk Density

• Specific Gravity

Can the void ratio of the soil be less than zero?

• Yes

• No

What is the Bulk Unit Weight?

• mass of all constituents per unit volume of soil

• mass of water per unit volume of soil

• mass of solids per unit volume of soil

• mass of air per unit volume of soil