What is the dry density of a soil sample with a total density of 110 pcf and a moisture content of 60%?
To determine the dry density of a soil sample with a total density of 110 pcf and a moisture content of 60%, calculate 60% of 110 pcf (66 pcf), which is the weight of the water. Subtract this from the total density to find the dry density, which is 44 pcf.
Explanation:
The total density of a soil sample is 110 pounds per cubic foot (pcf), and its moisture content is 60%. We need to find the dry density of the soil sample. To calculate it, we should first determine the weight of the water in the sample and then subtract it from the total weight of the moist soil.
Since 60% of the soil weight is water, the weight of just the water is 60% of 110 pcf = 0.60 × 110 pcf = 66 pcf. Subtract this weight from the total weight to find the dry weight.
So, the dry weight of the soil is 110 pcf - 66 pcf = 44 pcf. Option A. 44 pcf is the correct answer to what the dry density of the soil sample is.