TABLE OF CONTENT

No. Content Page

1. Introduction 2

2. Theoretical Background 3

3. Apparatus 4

4. Procedure 4-5

5. Results 7-8

6. Discussions and Conclusions 9-11

7. Appendix 12-13

8. References 14
1.1 Introduction
The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities will not be able to provide the
avenue for students to enhance independent learning activities and inculcate creativity and
innovation. Level 0 is fully prescriptive where problems, ways & means and answers are
provided to the students. However, it is still necessary, especially for first and second-year
students. It is hoped that the activity will slowly introduce and inculcate independent learning
among students and prepare them for a much harder task of open-ended laboratory activities.

In this laboratory session, students will be introduced to how to determine the particle density
and specific gravity of soil.

1.2 Objectives

The objective of the test is:

i. To determine the particle density & specific gravity of soil using density bottle.
ii. To determine the moisture content of soils.

1.3 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:

i. Conduct the laboratory experiment and being exposed theoretically to other

alternative methods of particle density testing.
ii. Analyse data correctly and present in typical format.
iii. Work in a group to produce technical report.
1.4 Theoretical Background

There are three tests for the measurement of particle density. These have different
applications, which may be summarized as follows:

i. Density bottle method – for fine-grained soils

ii. Gas jar method – for most soils including those containing gravel-sized particles.
iii. Pycnometer method – for use in a site laboratory on medium and coarse-grained
soils

The first two are the usual laboratory methods. The third is useful as a simple on-site
procedure where full laboratory facilities are not available and when a result of lower
accuracy is acceptable.

Water is present in the most naturally occurring soils. Moisture content is required as a guide
to classification of natural soil and as a control criterion in a recompacted soil and is measure
on samples used for most field and laboratory test.

2.0 Problem Statement

Specific gravity Gs is defined as the ratio of the weight of a certain volume of soil solids to
the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at a constant temperature. Moisture content,
ω % is the amount of water expressed as a proportion by mass of the dry solid particles that
has profound effect on soil behaviour. As a group you are given a set of samples to determine
the particle density and moisture content of the soil. The group must carry out the test
following the procedures outline and subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper
technical format.
3.1 Apparatus

Particle Density/Moisture Content

i. Density bottle with stopper having capillary hole at its centre.

ii. Wash bottle.
iii. De-aired distilled water.
iv. Alcohol
v. Ether balance
vi. Vacuum sets.
vii. Constant temperature water bath
viii. Specimens
ix. Containers
x. Weighing Balance
xi. Oven

3.2 Procedures
Particle Density

1. Clean and dry the density bottle and stopper properly.

2. Weigh the dried bottle with stopper and record the mass (m1).
3. Take about 10 - 20 gm of oven-dried soil sample cooled in desiccator. Pour it
carefully into the density bottle. Weigh the bottle with soil and stopper. Record the
mass (m2).
4. Pour about 10 ml de-aired distilled water in the bottle to soak the soil. Leave it for a
period of 2 to 10 hours.
5. Pour some more distilled water to make the bottle half full. Remove the entrapped air
by applying partial vacuum.
6. Pour some more distilled water into the bottle and fill it completely without any
entrapped bubble. Put the stopper on.
7. Keep the bottle on the stand in constant temperature water bath for one hour.
8. Take out the bottle from water bath. Wipe it clean and dry from outside. If the
capillary of the stopper is not full, fill it with drops of distilled water. Again make sure
the bottle and stopper are clean dry.
 9. Weigh the bottle filled with water and soil samples with stopper. Record the mass
(m3).
10. Empty the bottle and clean it properly. Fill the bottle entirely with distilled water.
Make sure there are not entrapped air bubbles, or otherwise the partial vacuum has to
be used.
11. Put on the stopper and wipe the bottle dry from outside. Now weigh and record the
mass (m4). Again empty the bottle and dry it up properly.
12. Repeat the step

Moisture Content of Soils

1. Clean and dry the container and weight it (M1). Take a sample at least 30 g of wet
soils.
2. Place loosely the wet soil in the container.
3. Using the balance, both of the container number and the mass are recorded on the data
sheet.
4. Then obtain the mass container and wet soil (M2). Place the container and wet soil in
an oven and then dry the soils overnight (for 12 to 16 hours) at the temperature of
110°C ± 5°C.
5. Remove the container and dry soil from the oven and allow the whole to cool. Use a
balance to obtain the mass of the container and dry soil (M3).

3.3 Data Acquisition

Particle Density & Specific Gravity
The particle density, ρs of the soil, ρs = (M2 – M1) / [(M4-M1)-(M3-M2)]
The specific gravity, Gs of the soil, Gs = ρs / ρw ……. Where ρw is density of water.
The specific gravity should be calculated at a temperature of 27o C and reported to the
nearest 0.01. If the room temperature is different from 27o C, the following correction should
be done:-
Gs’ = kGs
where,
Gs’ = Corrected specific gravity at 27o C
k = [Relative density of water at room temperature]/ [Relative density of water at 27o C].
Relative density of water at various temperatures is taken from Table 1.1

Table 1.1: Relative Density of Water

4.1 Results
Table 1.0 : Particle Density Data Sheet

Preparation Method:
Density bottle no. # 1 2 3
Mass of density bottle + stopper (g) M1 31.97 34.52 32.84
Mass of density bottle + stopper + dry
M2 42.00 45.20 47.90
soil (g)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + soil
M3 138.59 91.28 142.32
+ water (g)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + full
M4 132.35 84.80 132.93
of water (g)

Mass of dry soil used (g) M2 - M1 10.03 10.68 15.06

Mass of water used (g) M3 - M2 96.59 46.08 94.42
Mass of water to fill density bottle
M4 -M1 100.38 50.28 100.09
(g)

Temperature (°C) Tx 27 27 27
Particle density of soil (g/cm3) ρs 2.65 2.54 2.66
Average Particle density (g/cm3) ρs 2.62
Specific Gravity Gs 2.65 2.54 2.66
Corrected Specific Gravity (at 27°C) Gs’ 2.65 2.54 2.66
Table 1.2: Moisture Content Data Sheet

Container no. No. 1 2

Mass of container (g) M1 31.31 28.53
Mass of wet soil + container
M2 41.53 42.25
(g)

After oven-dried

Mass of dry soil + container

M3 40.24 38.34
(g)
Mass of moisture (g) M2 – M3 1.29 3.91

Mass of dry soil (g) M3 – M1 8.93 9.81

Moisture content, % � 14.45% 39.86%

Average moisture content ���� 26.655%

Moisture content, ω% = [M2 – M3 / M3 – M1] x 100%

4.2 DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

From this experiment, students work in groups to identify moisture content and
specific gravity of the soil. Firstly, one of the most important considerations when assessing
the durability of soil is moisture content. Planning for any structure's foundation must
consider the base soil's strength, which is established by test findings and is strongly reliant
on moisture content. The stability of manmade buildings may be impacted by excessive
dryness or wetness. Engineers can express the proper moisture balance for optimal soil
compaction without creating crumbling or unwanted movement.

Engineers can calculate how permeable or how many voids the soil contains by
knowing its specific gravity, which is why we need to know it. It also demonstrates how wet
the soil is. By averting incidents like landslides and more, this can protect the work that has
been done on the soil. Understanding the moisture level of the soil can help with highly
efficient irrigation, providing water when required and avoiding wasteful water use when
irrigation is not required. This aids in our comprehension of how the natural world functions
and responds to change.

Next, the specific gravity of soil solid is used in calculating the phase relationships of
soils, such as the void ratio and the degree of saturation. The specific gravity of soil solids is
used to calculate the density of the soil solids. The result of specific gravity is in range of
common specific gravity value for that soil. Students must conduct the experiment carefully
and follow to all standard procedures.

During the experiment, there have some errors when students try to weight the soil on
the Weighing Balance. This is because of the effect of wind movement from the surrounding.
Students must also take precaution while weighing the sample. The weighing balance must be
checked before conducting the test so that it will read a proper reading of the samples.
Furthermore, another main reason for the reading and calculations to be inaccurate is the
presence of entrapped air. Entrapped air has to be eliminated completely before testing the
sample.
 The range of the specific gravity of soil particles is 2.65 to 2.85. A specific gravity of
less than 2 will be attained if the soils are made up of permeable and organic components.
Soils with heavy constituents will exhibit a specific gravity value greater than 3. The
experiment's findings led us to determine the specific gravity to be 2.65 for sample 1, 2.54 for
sample 2 and 2.66 for sample 3. This demonstrates that the experiment was successfully
completed and that our result is within the expected range.
4.3 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, students have conducted laboratory work on particle density using the
density bottle method and moisture content using the oven drying method. Students have
used the density bottle method to calculate the particle density and specific gravity of soils.
After conducting these laboratory experiments, it was also possible to determine the moisture
content of soils, proving that the lab's goals had been met. The data that the students collected
during the laboratory experiment was used to analyze the moisture content of the two samples
that we took, as well as the three samples used for the particle density test. The objectives
were also important for this lab because they will require a theory of calculation to determine
the accurate value for particle density and specific gravity in Table 1.0 as well as the moisture
content in Table 1.2. For this lab, false results and data will result from students using the
incorrect theory of calculation. The calculation formula and the results of the experiments
will be used to determine the objectives for the students. The calibration of balances on
weighing balances can be affected by environmental error, such as air pressure from the
laboratory's surroundings like a ceiling fan or an open door, which is sensitive equipment that
can result in the display of incorrect measurements. Before weighing the sample, ensure that
the weighing balance equipment is in good top condition and that it is not being disturbed by
any environmental error such as air flow, which will cause the reading of the weighing
balance equipment to not display zero weight when turned on with nothing placed on it.
5.0 APPENDIX
Prove and picture we conduct the test moisture content.

Figure 1: wet soil that we used for moisture content test

Figure 2: 30 g of wet soil

Figure 3: we measured the weight after dry in the oven for 24 hours.
Prove and picture we conduct for particle density test

Figure 4: measured the weight of dry bottle with stopper.

Figure 5: measured the weight of dry bottle with 10 g of dry soil.

Figure 6: we pour the distilled water in the bottle until half full.
Figure 7: we keep the bottle in constant temperature water bath.

Figure 8: we weight the bottle with full of distilled water.

6.0 RERFENCES

1. Neenu S K (2010, September 11). Specific Gravity of Soil By Pycnometer Method.

The Constructor. https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/specific-gravity-soil-
pycnometer-procedure-calculations/2677/

2. Dream Civil (2022, May 12). What is Specific Gravity of Soil?

https://dreamcivil.com/specific-gravity-of-soil/

3. Uitm Pasir Gudang (2023), Lab manual ECG 263: Moisture Content of soil &
Particle Density Test.