WEIGHT & VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS

1. In a wet soil mass air occupies one-sixth of its volume and water occupies
one- third of its volume. The void ratio of the soil is (UPSC Engineering
Service Exam, 2010)

A) 0.25 B)0.5 C)0.75 D)1.0

Ans:D

2. A dry soil sample has equal amounts of solids and voids by volume. Its
void ratio and porosity will be: (UPSC Engineering Service Exam,2001)

Void ratio Porosity(%)

A. 1.0 100
B. 0.5 50
C. 0.5 100
D. 1.0 50

Ans:D

3. The void ratio and specific gravity of a soil sample are 0.65 and 2.72
respectively. The degree of saturation (in percentage) corresponding to a water
content of 20% is (GATE, 2001)

A)65.3 B)20.9 C)83.7 D)54.4

Ans:C

4.A sample of saturated sand has a dry unit weight of 18 kN/m3 and a specific
gravity of 2.7.If γwater is 10kN/m3.The void ratio of the soil sample will be

A)0.5 B)0.6 C)0.4 D)0.9 (UPSC Engineering Service Exam,2000)

Ans:A

5. A saturated soil mass has a total density 22 kN/m3 and a water content of
10%.The bulk density and dry density of this soil are: (GATE,2005)

A)12 kN/m3 and 20 kN/m3 , respectively

B)22 kN/m3 and 20 kN/m3, respectively

C)19.8 kN/m3 and 19.8 kN/m3 , respectively

D)23.2kN/m3 and 19.8kN/m3, respectively

Ans:B

6. A borrow pit soil has a dry density of 17 kN/m3. How many cubic meters of this
soil will be required to construct an embankment of a 100 m3 volume with a dry
density 16 kN/m3. (GATE, 2000)

A) 94 m3 B)106 m3 C)100 m3 D)90 m3

Ans:A

7.A site deposit has a void ratio of 0.9. If the void ratio is reduced to 0.6 by
compaction, find the percentage volume loss due to compaction. (UPSC
Engineering Service Exam,2014)

Ans:15.8%

8. A soil sample in its natural state has a mass of 2.290 kg and volume of
1.15x10-3m3 . After being oven-dried, the mass of the sample is 2.305 kg. Gs for the
soil is 2.68. The void ratio of the natural soil is (GATE, 1999)
A) 0.40 B) 0.45 C) 0.55 D) 0.53

Ans: D (nearest value)

9.A soil sample has been compacted in an embankment at a bulk density of 2.15
Mg/m3 and a water content of 12%. The value of specific gravity of solids is 2.65.
The water table is well below the foundation level. Estimate the dry density, void
ratio, degree of saturation, and air content of the compacted soil. Assume γw =
1g/cc (GATE, 2002)

Ans. γd = 1.92g/cc, e = 0.38, S = 83.68%, ac = 16.32%.