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Multiple Choice

The soil sample roll test measures which property?

Plasticity is what the roll test evaluates. In this quick check, a damp soil paste is rolled between the hands or on a plate to see if it can form a continuous thread without breaking. If the soil can be rolled into a thread (typically to a certain diameter) and maintain its shape, it shows plastic behavior. This is a practical, qualitative way to gauge how plastic a fine-grained soil is, which relates to its Atterberg limits. The test doesn’t measure how much moisture is in the sample (that’s a separate gravimetric test), nor does it determine gradation (particle sizes) or the precise liquid limit (which uses a specific apparatus like a Casagrande cup).

Plasticity is what the roll test evaluates. In this quick check, a damp soil paste is rolled between the hands or on a plate to see if it can form a continuous thread without breaking. If the soil can be rolled into a thread (typically to a certain diameter) and maintain its shape, it shows plastic behavior. This is a practical, qualitative way to gauge how plastic a fine-grained soil is, which relates to its Atterberg limits. The test doesn’t measure how much moisture is in the sample (that’s a separate gravimetric test), nor does it determine gradation (particle sizes) or the precise liquid limit (which uses a specific apparatus like a Casagrande cup).