Question

Permeability of the soil depends on __________

(a) Size of the soil particle

(b) Moisture present in soil

(c) Specific surface of the soil particle

(d) Density of the soil

The question was asked during an internship interview.

This intriguing question comes from Soils Classification topic in chapter Classification of Soils of Geotechnical Engineering I

Answer 1

Correct choice is (c) Specific surface of the soil particle

To explain I would say: Permeability of soil greatly depends on the specific surface of the soil because of the viscous effects associated with surface characteristics of the grains.