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Really need help with a science project. |
QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
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From: Pakistan
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What i want to know is whether soil has more airspaces than sand in it? An experiment i read said that add water in sand and soil and afterwards see who's mass/volume decreases more. I'm really stumped and need help!!
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Cycovision
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
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From: England
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Here you go 
http://www.sciencebuddies.org[....]oject_ideas/MatlSci_p024.shtml
The guide is aimed at young kiddies but the science is sound, I remember using a similar procedure in Chemistry when I was doing my 'A' Levels.
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voda_jon
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
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or u could measure equal amounts in beakers, then compress... the one which has least volume after compression would therefore have more air in the spaces me thinks. |
QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
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thanks. can you tell me the conclusion? is sand more porous than soil?
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[ This Message was edited by: QVGA on 2007-12-06 15:42 ] |
Burgaz
Joined: Mar 25, 2004
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bloody hell do you want them to write the whole project for you too.... 
I  Fantasy Worlds and Disney Girls. Currently using: iPhone |
QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
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is sand more porous than soil?
i just want the answer to that
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QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
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sand has more air in it than soil, i think i found it.
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Cycovision
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
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Yes it has bigger airspaces, but it's not necessarily more porous! Sand has a porosity of about 34% but clay soil has a porosity of up to 53% according to google and thickypedia.
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fatreg
Joined: Jul 26, 2003
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On 2007-12-06 17:06:30, Cycovision wrote:
Yes it has bigger airspaces, but it's not necessarily more porous! Sand has a porosity of about 34% but clay soil has a porosity of up to 53% according to google and thickypedia.
the porosity of sand fluctuates too, locally Weymouth sand is more porous than that of Lyme Regis (Originates from Normandy), without getting very sad, the sand of Lyme Regis is mixed sized therefore compacts better resulting in less air between grains...... |
goldenface
Joined: Dec 17, 2003
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From: Liverpool City Centre
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To add to the confusion, some soil naturally contains sand too so it depends on what kind of soil.
My guess is soil would be more porous simply because a kg of soil would be much larger volume wise than a kg of sand, correct me if I'm wrong.
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Cycovision
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
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^^^^^
yeah, I reckon it's one of those trick questions where the answer is the opposite of what you'd think!
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fatreg
Joined: Jul 26, 2003
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Sand has a porousity of about 34% whereas soil is about 20% 
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Cycovision
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
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Yeah but what about clay soil? It's technically more porous but gravity, compression and electrostatic charge can make it waterlogged? Or am I wrong? Probably!
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fatreg
Joined: Jul 26, 2003
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you're spot on cyco!
water logging is a big problem in clay. clay is essentially made up of hexagons that when wet tesselate into position as not to allow any water through.
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Posted: 2007-12-06 15:34
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