CE LICENSURE EXAMINATION PROBLEMS 6. The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids.

(M00 H
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL 14)
a. moisture content c. degree of saturation
b. void ratio d. porosity
MULTIPLE CHOICE
7. A soil sample has a moisture content of 30% and degree of
1. A specimen of moist clay has a mass of 183.4 grams. After oven- saturation of 45%. The solids have specific gravity of 2.61.
drying, the mass is reduced to 157.7 grams. Which of the following Determine the dry unit weight of the soil in kN/m3. (M00 H 17)
most nearly gives the moisture content of the sample? (N98 H 16) a. 8.52 c. 9.34
a. 38.3 % c. 27.3 % b. 12.14 d. 10.25
b. 49.3 % d. 16.3 %
8. A sample of moist clay is found to have moisture content of 400%
2. Which of the following gives the formula for the relative density of and degree of saturation of 85%. The specific gravity of the solids
a natural granular soil? (M99 H 18) is 2.76. Determine the void ratio of this soil. (M00 H 18)
a. e +e c. e –e a. 13.23 c. 10.24
Dr = e max– e Dr = e max– e b. 9.81 d. 12.99
max min max min
b. emax – emin d. emin – e
Dr = e – e Dr = e – e 9. A sample of moist sand taken from the field was found to have a
max max min
moisture content of 14% and a porosity of 38%. In a laboratory test
3. A sample of moist soil has water content of 18% and moist unit that simulates field conditions, it was found that at its densest state,
weight of 17.3 kN/m3. The specific gravity of solids is 2.65. Which its void ratio is 85% and at its loosest state its void ratio is 40%.
of the following most nearly gives the degree of saturation of the Determine the relative density of the sand. (M00 H 19)
soil? (M99 H 24) a. 0.527 c. 0.623
a. 62 % c. 42 % b. 0.854 d. 0.472
b. 72 % d. 52 %
10. A clay sample has unit weight of 20.06 kN/m3 with moisture
4. A soil sample was compacted. The result of the Standard Proctor content of 8.2%. The saturated unit weight of the sample is 21.58
Test shows that at 100% compaction, the soil weighs 131.1 pcf kN/m3. Determine the porosity of the soil. (N00 H 13)
with optimum moisture content of 14%. What is the saturated unit a. 45 % c. 47 %
weight of the soil in pcf? G = 2.67. (N99 H 13) b. 31 % d. 28 %
a. 145.2 c. 178.6
b. 121.9 d. 134.3

5. A soil sample was compacted. The result of the Standard Proctor

Test shows that at 100% compaction, the soil weighs 131.1 pcf
with optimum moisture content of 14%. What is the maximum dry
unit weight of the soil (at zero air voids) in pcf? G = 2.67. (N99 H
14)
a. 115 c. 154.3
b. 121.3 d. 107.2
11. A clay sample has the following properties: Situation: Given the following characteristics of a soil sample:
Porosity = 0.35 (in situ) Volume = 0.5 cubic feet
Maximum void ratio = 0.85 Mass = 56.7 pound mass
Minimum void ratio = 0.42 The solids have specific gravity of 2.69. After oven-
Specific gravity of solids = 2.72 drying, the mass of the soil was 48.7 pounds.
Moisture content = 62 %
Determine the dry unit weight of the soil in its natural state, in pcf. 17. Which of the following most nearly gives the density of the in-situ
(M01 H 8) soil? (N02 H 19)
a. 115.87 c. 105.45 a. 104.2 lb/ft3 c. 123.1 lb/ft3
3
b. 110.36 d. 98.34 b. 120.7 lb/ft d. 113.4 lb/ft3

12. The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the soil is 18. Which of the following most nearly gives the porosity of the in-
called: (M01 H 10) situ soil? (N02 H 20)
a. porosity c. moisture content a. 0.51 c. 0.27
b. degree of saturation d. void ratio b. 0.42 d. 0.32

13. In soil properties, the ratio of the total mass to the total volume of 19. Which of the following most nearly gives the degree of saturation
solids is called: (M01 H 16) of the in-situ soil? (N02 H 21)
a. specific gravity c. bulk density a. 75 % c. 61 %
b. bulk unit weight d. dry unit weight b. 45 % d. 35 %

14. A 480 cc soil sample taken from the site weighs 850.5 grams. After Situation: The following data were obtained from laboratory tests
oven-drying, it weighed 594.4 grams. If the specific gravity of for a cohesive specimen: moisture content, ω, was 22.5%;
solids is 2.72, determine the void ratio of the soil. (N01 H 8) Gs = 2.60; and to determine the approximate unit weight,
a. 0.976 c. 1.187 a sample having a mass of 224.0 g was placed in a 500
b. 1.195 d. 1.432 cm3 container with 382 cm3 of water required to fill the
container.
15. A 480 cc soil sample taken from the site weighs 850.5 grams. After
oven-drying, it weighed 594.4 grams. If the specific gravity of 20. What is the nearest value to the total unit weight of the soil sample
solids is 2.72, determine the degree of saturation of the soil. (N01 in kN/m3? (M03 H 19)
H 9) a. 20.44 c. 18.62
a. 0.749 c. 0.923 b. 21.58 d. 19.71
b. 0.979 d. 0.843
21. What is the nearest value to the dry unit weight of the soil sample
16. Soil mass consists of solid particles, water, and air. The combined in kN/m3? (M03 H 20)
volume of water and air is called voids and its ratio with the a. 14.3 c. 13.9
volume of solid particles is called the void ratio. The ratio of the b. 16.1 d. 15.2
mass of solid to the total volume of soil is termed as: (N01 H 22)
a. dry unit weight c. moist unit weight
b. dry density d. moist density
22. What is the void ratio e? (M03 H 21)
a. 0.678 c. 0.866
b. 0.582 d. 0.784

Situation: A fully saturated clay sample has a mass of 1,526 grams.

After oven-drying, its mass was reduced to 1,053 grams.
The specific gravity of soil particles is 2.7.

23. Calculate the natural water content of the sample in percent. (N03
H 10)
a. 52 c. 36
b. 45 d. 40

24. Calculate the void ratio in percent. (N03 H 11)

a. 85 c. 136
b. 114 d. 121

25. Calculate the porosity in percent. (N03 H 12)

a. 48 c. 55
b. 36 d. 59