1: Introduction (General Concepts)

Question 1

the uncemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid particles

Answer 1

soil

Question 2

branch of science that deals with the study of the physical properties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to various types of forces

Answer 2

Soil Mechanics

Question 3

the application of the principles of soil mechanics to practical problems

Answer 3

Soil Engineering

Question 3

subdiscipline of civil engineering that includes the application of the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics to the design of foundations, retaining structures, and earth structures

Answer 3

Geotechnical Engineering

Question 4

flourished along the banks of rivers, such as the Nile (Egypt), the Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), the Huang Ho (Yellow River, China), and the Indus (India)

Answer 4

Ancient civilizations

Question 5

built at the time of the pyramids and centuries before the Roman Baths, was the largest city of the Indus Civilization

Answer 5

Mohenjo Daro (Pakistan)

Question 6

Mesopotamian irrigation systems emerged around ________ in the southern region of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided a lifeline for agricultural prosperity.

Answer 6

6000 BCE

Question 7

In Pre-classical Period of Soil Mechanics, Studies focused more on:

Answer 7

1. Natural slope
2. Unit weights of various types of soils
3. Semiempirical earth pressure theories

Question 8

the steepest angle at which loose material (like soil, sand, or gravel) naturally stays stable without sliding or collapsing; A natural slope will typically form at this angle, as it represents the balance between gravity and friction.

Answer 8

angle of repose.

Question 9

Mass movement depends on:

Answer 9

1. Nature of the Material
2. Water Content
3. Slope Steepness

Question 10

For natural slope:

clean, dry sand = ____

ordinary earth = _____

Answer 10

31˚; 45˚

Question 11

For unit weight:

clean, dry sand = _____ kN/m3

ordinary earth = _____ kN/m3

Answer 11

18.1; 13.4

Question 12

‘weight density’, of a soil refers to its weight per cubic meter and is typically expressed as kilonewtons per cubic meter (kN/m3)

Answer 12

Unit weight

Question 13

The unit weight of soil depends on the: ___________, the ___________ in the soil, and how _______ the soil is.

Answer 13

1. composition of the soil particles
2. amount of water
3. well compacted

Question 14

Factors Affecting Soil Unit Weight is also not limited to:

Answer 14

1. Mineralogy of the soil particles (e.g. silica, quartz, feldspar, etc.).
2. The range of sizes of the soil particles, also known as the particle size distribution.
3. The angularity of the soil particles (most relevant to coarse sands and gravels).
4. The moisture content of the soil – whether the voids between the soil particles are completely filled with water (fully saturated) or mostly air.
5. Organic content of the soil.