Soil Mechanics – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. 1. What is 'soil mechanics'?

   • A. The branch of engineering mechanics that applies the principles of mechanics to soils
   • B. The study of fluid flow in pipes
   • C. The study of structural analysis
   • D. The study of concrete properties

2. 2. What is 'soil' in engineering terms?

   • A. A natural aggregate of mineral grains with or without organic constituents that can be separated by gentle mechanical means
   • B. A single mineral particle
   • C. A rock formation
   • D. A type of metal

3. 3. What is 'void ratio' (e)?

   • A. The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids
   • B. The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of solids
   • C. The ratio of the volume of air to the volume of voids
   • D. The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume

4. 4. What is 'porosity' (n)?

   • A. The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the soil mass
   • B. The ratio of the volume of solids to the total volume
   • C. The ratio of the volume of water to the total volume
   • D. The ratio of the volume of air to the total volume

5. 5. What is 'degree of saturation' (S)?

   • A. The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids
   • B. The ratio of the volume of air to the volume of voids
   • C. The ratio of the volume of solids to the total volume
   • D. The ratio of the volume of water to the total volume

6. 6. What is 'water content' (w)?

   • A. The ratio of the mass of water to the mass of solids
   • B. The ratio of the mass of air to the mass of solids
   • C. The ratio of the mass of solids to the total mass
   • D. The ratio of the mass of water to the total mass

7. 7. What is 'bulk density' (ρ_b) or unit weight (γ_b)?

   • A. Total mass or weight of the soil mass per unit total volume
   • B. Mass of solids per unit volume
   • C. Mass of water per unit volume
   • D. Mass of air per unit volume

8. 8. What is 'dry density' (ρ_d) or dry unit weight (γ_d)?

   • A. Mass or weight of the solids per unit total volume of the soil mass
   • B. Mass of water per unit total volume
   • C. Mass of air per unit total volume
   • D. Total mass per unit volume

9. 9. What is 'saturated density' (ρ_sat) or saturated unit weight (γ_sat)?

   • A. The density or unit weight of a soil when all voids are filled with water
   • B. The density of dry soil
   • C. The density of partially saturated soil
   • D. The density of only solids

10. 10. What is 'submerged density' (ρ_sub) or submerged unit weight (γ_sub)?

    • A. The effective density or unit weight of a soil when it is fully submerged in water
    • B. The density of dry soil
    • C. The density of saturated soil
    • D. The density of water

11. 11. What is 'effective size' (D_10)?

    • A. The particle diameter at which 10% of the soil by weight is finer
    • B. The particle diameter at which 50% is finer
    • C. The maximum particle size
    • D. The minimum particle size

12. 12. What does a high uniformity coefficient indicate?

    • A. Well-graded soil
    • B. Poorly graded soil
    • C. Uniform soil
    • D. Clayey soil