AIM: To determine the moisture content of a given sample of soil using data that

was read off and recorded from the experiment.

OBJECTIVES:

The moisture content analysis is used to determine the amount and percentage of moisture in
soils. The water content is the ratio of the mass of water in a given mass of soil to the mass of
the dry soil solids. The water content of soils is also responsible for in ascertaining soil
properties and behaviour. It is significant in stating the phase relationships of air, water, and
solids in a given volume of soil.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

1) 3 containers (cans 'S','T', & 'U')

2) Electronic Balance (0.01g accuracy)
3) Thermostatically controlled electric drying oven
4) A scoop

PROCEDURE:

1. The 3 containers were labelled using letters S,T and U in sequence

2. Weight of can 'S' and its lid was measured and recorded to the nearest 0.1 g (M1).
3. Then a sample of wet soil was added to the can and its weight was measured (M2).
4. The measured weight was then recorded.
5. The electric oven was then set at105°C and the cans were then placed in the oven for
24 hours opened.
6. The cans were then taken out from the oven allowed to cool.
7. The new weight of the cans were then measured and recorded respectively
RESULTS:

Sample reference
Container no. S T U AVERAGE
Mass of wet soil + container(m2) g 140.8 144.0 135.1 140.0
Mass of dry soil + container(m3) g 125.8 144.0 135.1 124.7
Mass of container (m1) g 21.40 128.6 119.8 21.0
Mass of moisture (m2-m3) g 15.0 20.90 20.80 15.2
Mass of dry soil (m3-m1) g 104.4 107.7 99.0 103.7
Moisture content w=[(m2-m3)/(m3-m1)] x 100 % 14.4 14.3 15.5 14.7

CALCULATING RESULTS:

1) Mass of Water Mw = M2 - M3
2) Mass of Solid Ms= M3 - M1
3) Water content W (%) = [(M2-M3) / (M3-M1)] x 100

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Samples S and T had the highest mass for M2, where M2 was the mass of the wet soil and
Container whilst Sample S and U had the lowest mass for M3 where M3 was the Mass of the
dry soil and container. When both the mass of the soil solids and the mass of the pore water
were calculated, Sample S gave the highest mass.

Sample 'U' was the lowest recorded weight for M2 and M3 and this sample had the least mass
for the mass of the container.
CONCLUSION

The average moisture content of all three samples gave a calculated value of 14.7% which is
the natural moisture content of the soil sample that was given. The calculated differences
among the samples were 1.07% from the highest to the lowest. From the calculations Sample
U was shown to have the highest moisture content at a value of 15.5% and sample T had the
lowest moisture content at a value of 14.3%.
 Soil Mechanics
Lab Report

Determination of Soil
Water content

Name; Thabo Chuchu

Id; 201700080