Question

A 500-g sample of sand in the SSD condition was placed in a jar, which was then filled with water. The combined weight was 1697 g. The weight of the jar filled with the water only was 1390 g. Calculate the bulk specific gravity (SSD) of the sand.

Answer 1

Explanation:

The given data is as follows.

 Dry mass of soil ($m_{d}$) = $m_{2} - m_{1}$ = 500 g

$m_{3}$ = jar + soil + water = 1697 g

$m_{4}$ = weight of jam + water = 1390 g

$m_{2}$ = bottle + dry soil

$m_{1}$ = weight of empty bottle

Formula to calculate specific gravity is as follows.

  Specific gravity = $\frac{\text{dry mass of fossil}}{\text{mass of water of equal volume}}$

                = $\frac{m_{2} - m_{1}}{(m_{4} - m_{1}) - (m_{3} - m_{2})}$

                = $\frac{m_{2} - m_{1}}{(m_{2} - m_{1}) - (m_{3} - m_{4})}$

                = $\frac{500}{(500 - (1697 - 1390)}$

                = 2.59

Thus, we can conclude that value of bulk specific gravity (SSD) of the sand is 2.59.