Question

In wet soil mass, air occupies one-seventh of its volume and water occupies one- eighth of its volume. The void ratio of the soil is ______

(a) 0.25

(b) 0.36

(c) 0.43

(d) 1

I got this question during an interview.

I need to ask this question from Void Ratio, Porosity and Degree of Saturation topic in portion Preliminary Definitions and Relationships of Geotechnical Engineering I

Answer 1

Correct option is (b) 0.36

To explain I would say: Given,

Volume of water Va= (1/7) total volume V

Volume of water VW= (1/8) total volume V

Void ratio e= Vv/VS

Vv= Va + VW

Vv=(1/7)+(1/8)

Vv=(15/56)=0.268

VS= V-Vv

VS=1-0.268=0.732

∴e= 0.268/0.732

e=0.36.