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Multiple Choice

Which gradation quality describes a soil with a good range of all particle sizes between the largest and smallest for that sample?

Gradation describes how particle sizes are distributed in a soil. A soil with a good range of all particle sizes between the largest and smallest has a well-graded distribution. The mix of many sizes allows particles to fit together efficiently, filling voids and creating a denser, more stable soil structure. If size fractions are missing, it’s gap-graded; if most grains are about the same size, it’s poorly graded; if large particles dominate with big voids and not a full range, it’s open-graded. So, the best descriptor for spanning the full range of sizes is well-graded.

Gradation describes how particle sizes are distributed in a soil. A soil with a good range of all particle sizes between the largest and smallest has a well-graded distribution. The mix of many sizes allows particles to fit together efficiently, filling voids and creating a denser, more stable soil structure. If size fractions are missing, it’s gap-graded; if most grains are about the same size, it’s poorly graded; if large particles dominate with big voids and not a full range, it’s open-graded. So, the best descriptor for spanning the full range of sizes is well-graded.