Engineering Soil Analysis

Which of the following is NOT an inorganic component of soil?

• Gravel

• Humus

• Clay

• Silt

• Sand

Answer explanation

Humus is not an inorganic (non-living) component of soil. Inorganic components of soil include sand, silt, clay, minerals, and water.

Soil samples are taken about​ ​ (a)   below surface.

• 1' - 2'
• 1" - 2"
• 2' - 3'
• 2" - 3"
• 1 m - 2 m

A sieve is an instrument used to sort soil particles by their ​ (a)   .

• size
• color
• temperature
• chemical composition

Which type of soil particle would be stopped by a #40 - #10 sieve?

• Fine Sand

• Silt

• Medium Sand

• Clay

Which size sieve has larger openings in the screen?

• #40

• #4

Which type of soil gradation has a good number of many of the particle sizes in the soil sample?

• Well-Graded

• Poorly -Graded

• Gap-Graded

• Uniform

The fines of a soil is presently defined as the portion of soil particles finer than the No. ​ (a)   sieve

• 200
• 100
• 40
• 4
• 20

What is defined as the lowest moisture content at which soils can be rolled into 1/8” diameter thread without breaking.

• Liquid limit

• Strength

• Plastic Limit

• Porosity

What is defined as the minimum moisture content at which soil will flow when a small cutting force is applied.

• Liquid limit

• Strength

• Plastic Limit

• Porosity

Which of the following types of soil has greater than (>) 12% fines?

• Clean Soil

• Dirty Soil