Lesson 6.05 Soil Types Lab

Soil Types Lab

In this lab, we will test the permeability and porosity of sand, gravel, and soil.

Think about these hypothesis as you begin your lab:

Which material do you think will have the highest permeability (fastest time)?
Which material do you think will have the lowest permeability (slowest time)?
Which material do you think will have the highest porosity (largest spaces)?
Which material do you think will have the lowest porosity (smallest spaces)?

Materials:

• graduated cylinder
• 2 large cups, one with a hole in the bottom
• marker
• timer
• beaker
• calculator
• spoon or scraper
• water
• pea gravel
• yard soil (not potting soil)
• sand

Before you begin the lab, download 6.05 Soil Types Lab.

Procedure for measuring porosity:

1. Measure out 100 ml of water in the graduated cylinder.
2. Pour the 100 ml of water in one of the cups and use the marker to mark the level.
3. Pour the water back into the graduate cylinder.
4. Fill the same cup with sand up to the mark you drew.
5. Pout the 100 ml of water slowly into the sand. Stop when the water level just reaches the top of the sand.
6. Record the amount of water left in the graduated cylinder in the right column.
7. Calculate the pore space by subtracting the amount left in the graduated cylinder from the original 100ml.
8. Repeat steps 407 with the pea gravel and yard soil.
9. Calculate the % porosity and record in the table. Use this formula: porosity = (pore space volume/total volume) x 100

Procedure for measuring permeability:

1. Place the same amount of sand in the cup with a hole in the bottom.
2. Get a time ready. Hold the cup over a beaker to catch the water.
3. Pour the entire 100 ml of water quickly into the cup of sand. Start recording as soon as the water hits the sand.
4. Stop timing as soon as the first drop of water comes out of the hole in the bottom.
5. Repeat steps 1-5 with the pea gravel and soil.

Download, complete, and submit 6.05 Soil Types.

→

Complete the Unit 6 Test.

←