SOIL MECHANICS MCQs

1. Submerged unit weight of soil is equal to the saturated density ...............

a) plus unit weight of water b) minus unit weight of water
c) multiplied by unit weight of water d) divided by unit weight of water
2. The specific gravity of a soil is the ratio of the unit weight of the soil solids to that of water
at a temperature of ...............
a) 27°C b) 36°C c) 4°C d) 17°C
3. Water content of a soil can ...............
a) take a value only from 0% to 100% b) less than 0%
c) be greater than 100% d) never be greater than 100%
4. Density index for a natural soil is used to express ...............
a) percentage voids b) relative compactness
c) shear strength of clays d) specific gravity
5. Core-cutter method is used for ...............
a) determining density of soil b) obtaining samples for direct shear test
c) determining bearing capacity of soil d) compacting soil
6. Stoke's law gives the following velocity of a spherical particle falling freely in an infinite
liquid medium ...............
a) falling velocity b) actual velocity c) terminal velocity d) all of the above
7. The soil sample for the hydrometer analysis is pretreated with the following
agent ...............
a) Oxidizing agent b) reduction agent c) Sulphuric agent d All
of the above
8. A pycnometer is used to determine ...............
a) voids ratio b) dry density c) water content d) density index
9. Plasticity index is obtained as the difference between ...............
a) liquid limit and shrinkage limit b) shrinkage limit and plastic limit
c) liquid limit and plastic limit d) none of the above
10. The ratio of plasticity index to clay fraction is known as ...............
a) activity ratio b) flow index c) liquidity index d) toughness index

11. With reference to shrinkage and swelling, the most active clay mineral is ...............
a) Kaolinite b) Montmorillonite c) Illite d) None of these
12. In a soil if the water content is equal to the liquid limit, its relative consistency is ...............
a) 1 b) 0 c) 10 d) 5
13. Falling head permeameter is preferable when soil sample is ...............
a) clayey b) silty sand c) sandy d) sandy gravel
14. Units of co-efficient of permeability ...............
a) cm/s b) s/cm c) cm/s2 d) s2 /cm
15. Coefficient of permeability of a soil ...............
a) increases with the decrease in temperature b) increases with the increase in
temperature
 c) does not depend upon temperature d) none of the above
16. Flow net consists of a number of stream lines and equipotential lines which are ...............
a) parallel to each other b) perpendicular to each other
c) orthogonal to each other d) none of the above
17. The phreatic line is ...............
a) the u/s face of the earth dam b) d/s face of the earth dam
c) the top flow line d) none of the above
18. Consolidation is a process involving ...............
a) sudden compression of soil b) tilting and failure of structure
c) abnormal sinking of foundation d) gradual expulsion of pore water
19. Consolidation is generally considered to be a function of ...............
a) total stress b) neutral stress c) effective stress d) none of these
20. Compression of soils occurs rapidly if voids are occupied by ...............
a) air b) water
c) partly air and partly water d) none of the above
21. Mathematically speaking, the time taken for 100% consolidation is ...............
a) 5 years b) 10 years c) zero d) infinite
22. A clay deposit subjected to pressure in the past is more than the present over burden
pressure is known as ...............
a) normally consolidated soil b) over-consolidated soil
c) under-consolidated soil d) none of the above
23. A clay deposit which is not fully consolidated under the existing over burden pressure is
known as ...............
a) normally consolidated soil b) over-consolidated soil
c) under-consolidated soil d) none of the above
24. The most effective method for compacting sand is by using ...............
a) pneumatic rollers b) sheep foot rollers
c) steel tyred rollers d) vibration
25. The soil involved in the compaction is ...............
a) perfectly saturated soil b) partly saturated soil
c) submerged soil d) none of these

1.B 2.A 3.C 4.B 5.A

6.C 7.A 8.C 9.C 10.A
11.B 12.B 13.A 14.A 15.B
16.C 17.C 18.D 19.C 20.A
21.D 22.B 23.C 24.D 25.B