1. Introduction

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is soil?

   Hint

   Think about what makes up soil.

2. 2.

   Name one agent of weathering.

   Hint

   Consider what elements can break down rocks.

3. 3.

   What is the primary discipline concerned with the study of soil as a building material?

   • Biology
   • Soil Mechanics
   • Meteorology

   Hint

   Think about the field that deals with construction.

4. 4.

   True or False: Chemical weathering only breaks down rocks into smaller pieces.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider what happens when minerals react with water.

5. 5.

   Given a set of soil samples with varying particle sizes, predict how transport conditions (wind, water, ice) might affect their sorting and classification.

   Hint

   Think about how each agent of transport interacts with different sizes of particles.

6. 6.

   Discuss and analyze a real case of soil failure in an engineering project. What soil characteristics might have contributed to the failure?

   Hint

   Consider the relationship between soil properties and engineering design.