36.1.2.1. Grain size and distribution

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define permeability.

   Hint

   Think about how water moves through different materials.

2. 2.

   What typically increases permeability: a higher or lower void ratio?

   Hint

   Consider the space between the grains.

3. 3.

   What does permeability measure?

   • Water content
   • Fluid flow ability
   • Void ratio

   Hint

   Think about how water moves through different soils.

4. 4.

   True or False: Larger grains generally yield lower permeability.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how a bag of marbles compares to a bag of sand.

5. 5.

   Consider a material composed of mixed grain sizes. Discuss how the permeability might be affected during heavy rainfall events.

   Hint

   Consider various rainfall scenarios and their impact on soil layers.

6. 6.

   Design an experiment to test the permeability of a soil sample. What factors will you control?

   Hint

   Think about materials and methods used in a lab to simulate water flow.