Assignment 26: Porosity and Permeability

Introduction 

Soil type depends on how much of each kind of particle makes up the soil. There are 13 types of soil. Groundwater moves through the spaces between soil particles. These spaces are called pores. Not all soils have the same amount of pore space. Porosity depends on the number and size of pores in soil. You can find the volume of pore space in soil by determining the volume of water its pores are capable of holding. The volume of pore space divided by the volume of a soil sample determines its porosity. This measurement is given as a percentage of the volume of the soil.

The pores in soil are all connected, allowing water to pass through them. This means that soil is permeable. The ease with which water moves through the soil is called permeability. A soil with high porosity and many small pores can hold a lot of water, but it takes longer for the water to enter all the pores. This means that when the soil has higher porosity it has lower permeability.

Directions: 

1) This assignment is designed to assist you in learning the concepts of this module as well as assess your understanding and application of the content. 

2) This assignment has no time limit for completion and does not have to be completed in one sitting. Please do not click "Submit Assignment" until you have completed it. 

3) This assignment must be completed by the due date assigned or the course late policy will be applied. 

4) To begin this assignment, click the "Take the Quiz" button below.