40 Questions
What is the term used to describe soil transported by wind?
Aeolian soil
What is the Latin word from which the term 'soil' is derived?
Solium
What type of soil is formed through the deposition of soil particles by river water?
Alluvial soil
What is the term used to describe the removal of soil from rivulets by concentrated overland flow?
Gully erosion
What would be the effect of planting trees on soil erosion?
Decrease soil erosion
What type of soil is formed through the deposition of soil particles by glaciers?
Glacial soil
What type of soil is characterized by its strength depending on friction between particles?
Cohesionless soil
What is the term used to describe soil deposited in lakes?
Lacustrine soil
What is the name of the soil that is transported by flowing water?
Alluvial soil
What is soil erosion?
The detachment, transport, and deposition of soil particles on land surface
What is the term used to describe soil deposited in the sea?
Marine soil
What is humidity?
The water vapour in the air
Which type of soil is known for being most fertile?
Alluvial soil
What is the term used to describe the settling and distribution of particles in the soil mass?
Fabric
Who is known as the Father of Soil Mechanics?
Karl Terzaghi
What is an incorrect process of physical disintegration in regards to the formation of soils?
Plantation of trees and plants
Why is sand not ideal for the preparation of mortar?
It is soft
What happens to the compression index if the liquid limit is increased?
It decreases
What type of soil is characterized by being sticky, plastic, and dark colored?
Clay soil
What is the property of sand that is ideal for construction?
It is well graded
What is the correct formula for compression index?
cc = 0.007 (wL - 10)
What is absolute humidity?
It is expressed in kg/m3
What is the term used to describe the arrangement of particles in the soil mass?
Fabric
What is the primary method of preventing soil erosion?
Plantation of trees and plants
What is the term used to describe the moisture absorbed by a dry soil from the atmosphere?
Hygroscopic moisture
What is the characteristic of Gumbo soil?
It is a black colored soil, which is sticky and highly plastic in nature
Why is Black cotton soil unsuitable for foundations?
Due to its tendency to shrink and swell
What is the coefficient of softening of clay?
Zero
What is the characteristic of Peat soil?
It is a fibrous aggregate with decomposed fragments of vegetable matter
What is the effect of climatic changes on Loess soil?
It causes vertical swelling and horizontal shrinkage
What is the characteristic of Loess soil in terms of permeability?
It has lower permeability in the horizontal direction
What is Marl soil composed of?
Clay, loam, and calcareous sands
What is the characteristic of Black cotton soil?
Low density and high compressibility
What is the suitable foundation for a shallow layer of Black cotton soil?
Remove the layer of soil
What is the characteristic of a soil sample with complete saturation?
Pore water pressure is positive
What is the mineral responsible for the low shearing strength of Black cotton soil?
Montmorillonite
Which of the following statements is incorrect about Black cotton soil?
It has low shrinkage and swelling characteristics
What is the suitable foundation for a deep layer of Black cotton soil?
Uncleared-reamed piles
What is the characteristic of Loess soil?
Uniformly graded silt deposit
What type of system is a partially saturated soil sample?
Three-phase system
Study Notes
Origin of Soil and Soil Water Relationship
- Soil is derived from the Latin word "Solium", which means the upper layer of the earth that may be dug or plowed, specifically, the loose surface material of the earth in which plants grow.
Types of Soil
- Aeolian soil: soil transported by wind, like sand-dunes and loess.
- Alluvial soil: soil deposited by rivers or running water, often found at river banks.
- Marine soil: soil deposited by sea water.
- Lacustrine soil: soil deposited by still water, like lakes.
- Glacial soil: soil deposited by ice (till or drift).
Soil Erosion and Prevention
- Soil erosion: the detachment, transport, and deposition of soil particles on land surfaces.
- Planting trees and plants can reduce soil erosion by preventing sediment and soil settlement.
- Methods for preventing and reducing soil erosion include plantation of trees and plants, and controlling excessive grazing.
Soil Mechanics
- Father of Soil Mechanics: Dr. Karl Terzaghi, who coined the term "Soil Mechanics" in 1925.
- Soil mechanics involves the study of the physical properties and behavior of soils.
Physical Disintegration of Soil
- Physical disintegration of soil: the breakdown of soil particles into smaller fragments.
- Incorrect process of physical disintegration: spreading of roots of plants.
Soil Properties
- Cohesionless soil: soil whose strength depends on friction between particles, like sand or gravel.
- Fabric of soil: the geometrical arrangement of soil particles, including void spaces.
- Fertile soil: soil with adequate proportions of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime, ideal for plant growth, like alluvial soil.
Soil Types
- Gumbo: a black, sticky, plastic clay soil with small amounts of sand or organic material.
- Marl: a combination of clay, loam, and calcareous sands.
- Peat: a fibrous aggregate of decomposed vegetable matter.
- Loess: a uniformly graded silt deposit made by wind, with low density and high compressibility.
Soil Behavior
- Hygroscopic moisture: the trace moisture absorbed by dry soil from the atmosphere, held as a thin film on soil particles.
- Coefficient of softening for clay is zero, indicating that the compressive strength of saturated clay is zero.
Soil Applications
- Black cotton soil is unsuitable for foundations due to its high shrinkage and swelling characteristics, and low shearing strength.
- Raft foundations or uncler-reamed piles are used for structures on black cotton soil to counter its settling and swelling behavior.
This quiz covers the basics of soil science, including the origin of soil and soil water relationships.
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