Question

Calculate the bulk density of a soil sample that has a porosity of 20%. Assume the particle density is 2.65g/cm3. Show work.

Answer 1

The bulk density of the soil sample at the given porosity is 2.12 g/cm³.

The given parameters:

• Porosity of the soil sample, = 20 %
• Particle density of the soil sample = 2.65 g/cm³

The bulk density of the soil sample is calculated as follows;

$\phi = \frac{\rho _s - \rho _b }{\rho _s } \times 100\%$

where;

• $\phi$ is the porosity
• $\rho _s$ is the particle density
• $\rho _b$ is the bulk density

$20\% = \frac{2.65 - \rho _b}{2.65} \times 100\%\\\\0.2 = \frac{2.65 - \rho _b}{2.65} \\\\2.65 - \rho _b = 0.2(2.65)\\\\\rho_b = 2.65 - 0.2(2.65)\\\\\rho_b = 2.65(1 - 0.2)\\\\\rho_b = 2.65(0.8)\\\\\rho_b = 2.12 \ g/cm^3$

Thus, the bulk density of the soil sample at the given porosity is 2.12 g/cm³.

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