Soil Mechanics MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Here are Soil Mechanics MCQs (Chapterwise).

1. For engineering purposes, how can soil be classified?
a) Unified soil
b) Particle size
c) Textural
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: For general engineering purposes, soil can be classified in terms of particle size, textural and unified soil.

2. Which part of soil mechanics deals with soil under dynamic conditions?
a) Soil dynamics
b) Mass spring system
c) Mass system
d) Soil system
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Soil dynamics is defined as that constituent part of soil mechanics which deals with soil under dynamic conditions.

3. Which of the following factors affects the permeability of soil?
a) Void ratio of soils
b) Properties of pore fluid
c) Grain size
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Grain size, properties of pore fluid, structural soil arrangement of soil particles, entrapped air and foreign matter and adsorbed water.
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4. When is a soil sample considered well graded?
a) Excess of certain particles
b) Good representation of particles of all size
c) If it has most number of particles of same size
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: A soil is said to be well graded when it has a good representation of particle of all size.

5. When can the shrinking limit be found out using an alternate method?
a) Water content in the soil is known
b) Dry density of soil is known
c) The specific gravity of soil is known
d) Dry volume of soil is known
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Alternatively, shrinking limit can be found out if the specific gravity G of the soil grains is known.

6. What property of soil allows it to be deformed rapidly without rupture?
a) Plasticity
b) Tenacity
c) Elasticity
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Plasticity is the property of a soil which allows it to be deformed rapidly, without rupture, without elastic rebound and without volume change.

7. What are the ways of preventing of inclusion of air bubbles in shrinkage dish?
a) Coating the surface with a thin layer of oil
b) Mixing the soil with sufficient distilled water and Making the soil pasty enough
c) All of the mentioned
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Mixing the soil with sufficient distilled water and making it pasty enough prevents forming air bubbles in shrinking dish.
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8. Which of the following is exhibited by collapsible soil?
a) Loose bulky grains hold together by capillary stresses
b) Silts where cementing agent is soluble
c) All of the mentioned
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: A common feature of collapsible soil is the loose bulky grain held together by capillary stresses.

9. How will the specific surface of a soil particle be affected?
a) Inversely proportional to electric force
b) Proportional to inter-molecular surface
c) Directly proportional to electric force
d) Proportional to the compressive force
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The electrical force responsible for inter-particle effect is proportional to the specific surface.
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10. On what is the Indian standard classification of soil based?
a) International soil classification
b) PRA system
c) Indian system
d) M.I.T system
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Indian standard classification (IS: 1948-1970) is based on the M.I.T. system.

11. What is the purpose of soil classification?
a) To use it for various purpose
b) To arrange various soils types in to groups
c) For investigating the soil
d) For finding its properties
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The purpose of soil classification is to arrange various types of soils in to groups according to their engineering or agricultural properties.

12. A soil is considered as coarse grained, if it retains more than ___________ in a sieve.
a) 50% of the soil
b) 70% of the soil
c) 90% of the soil
d) 20% of the soil
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: If more than 50 % of the soil is retained on a NO.200 US sieve (0.075), it is designated as coarse grained soil.

13. Which soil properties are influenced by soil structure?
a) Shear strength
b) Permeability
c) Compressibility
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Soil structure is an important factor which influences many soil properties such as permeability, compressibility, and shear strength.

14. What type of soil structure has a comparatively loose stable structure?
a) Single grained
b) Flocculent
c) Honey comb
d) Cohesive matrix
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Honey comb structure is composed of loosely arranged bundle of particle. Hence they have comparatively less stable structure than others.

15. Who developed the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)?
a) Rankine
b) Casagrande
c) Atterberg
d) Kozney
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: In 1940, casagrande originally developed the unified soil classification system (USCS).

16. Coarse grained soil is sub-divided in to _______________
a) Sand and silt
b) Silt and clay
c) Gravel and clay
d) Gravel and sand
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Based on the soil size, coarse grained soil is divided in to gravel and sand.

17. What type of soil water is impossible to remove from the soil?
a) Solvate water
b) Capillary water
c) Structural water
d) Pore water
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Under loading encountered in soil engineering, it is found out that structural water cannot be separated or removed and therefore it is considered as a part and parcel of the soil particle.

18. Which one of the following factor does not affect soil suction?
a) Plasticity index of a soil
b) Atmospheric pressure
c) Water content
d) Temperature
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: As the atmospheric pressure, does not have any effect on water in the soil mass. It does not contribute to the affecting factor.

19. Volume change in soil is due to which of the following factor?
a) Change in pressure
b) Change in particle size
c) Water content is changed
d) Increase in soil density
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Decrease in the water content of the soil causes shrinkage while an increase of water content causes swelling.

20. Which of the following action can be used to prevent deep frost penetration in the ground surface in building?
a) Providing proper drainage
b) Interposing a pervious gravel blanket
c) Removing the frost susceptible soil
d) Placing insulating blankets of sand and gravel
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Placing insulating blankets of 15 to 30 cm thick layer of sand and gravel on the ground surface above the frost susceptible to prevent deep penetration method.

21. The study of seepage of water through soil is important for, which of the following purpose?
a) Ground water flow towards well
b) Drainage of soils
c) Stability of slopes
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The study of seepage of water through soil is important for the following engineering problem
i. Ground water towards soil and drainage of soil
ii. Calculation of seepage through the body of earth dams, and stability of slopes.


Chapterwise Multiple Choice Questions on Soil Mechanics

Geotechnical Engineering MCQ - Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

Our MCQs focus on all topics of the Soil Mechanics subject, covering all topics. This will help you to prepare for exams, contests, online tests, quizzes, viva-voce, interviews, and certifications. You can practice these MCQs chapter by chapter starting from the 1st chapter or you can jump to any chapter of your choice.
  1. Preliminary Definitions and Relationships
  2. Index Properties Determination
  3. Classification of Soils
  4. Soil Structure and Clay Minerology
  5. Soil Water Effective and Neutral Stresses
  6. Permeability
  7. Well Hydraulics
  8. Seepage Analysis
  9. Drainage and Dewatering
  10. Elements of Elasticity
  11. Stress Distribution
  12. One Dimensional Consolidation
  13. Compaction
  14. Shear Strength
  15. Failure Envelopes & Earth Pressure

1. Preliminary Definitions and Relationships

The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on void ratio, porosity, degree of saturation, density index, relative compaction, soil as three phase system, functional relationships and uniform spheres packing.

  • Soil as Three Phase System
  • Void Ratio, Porosity and Degree of Saturation
  • Density Index and Relative Compaction
  • Functional Relationships – 1
  • Functional Relationships – 2
  • Packing of Uniform Spheres
  • 2. Soil Mechanics MCQ on Index Properties Determination

    The section contains questions and answers on sedimentation analysis, consistency of soils, water content, sieve analysis, particle size distribution, clays sensitivity and thixotropy, liquid determination, collapsible soils, shrinkage limit, pipette and hydrometer method.

  • Water Content
  • Sieve Analysis
  • Sedimentation Analysis
  • Pipette Method
  • Hydrometer Method
  • Particle Size Distrubution Curve
  • Consistency of Soils
  • Determination of Liquid and Plastic Limits
  • Shrinkage Limit
  • Determination of in-situ Density
  • Activity of Clays
  • Sensitivity and Thixotropy of Clays
  • Collapsible Soils
  • 3. Classification of Soils

    The section contains MCQs on particle size classification, textural classification, unified and indian standard classification.

  • Specific Surface
  • Particle Size Classification
  • Textural Classification
  • Unified Soil Classification
  • Indian Standard Classification
  • 4. Soil Structure and Clay Minerology

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on honey comb structure as well as soil structure, structures like single grained, flocculent, dispersed and honey comb, atomic and molecule bonds and clay minerals.

  • Soil Structure
  • Solid Particles in Soil
  • Atomic and Molecule Bonds
  • Interparticle Force in a Soil Mass
  • Single Grained and Honey Comb Structure
  • Flocculent and Dispersed Structures
  • Clay Minerals
  • 5. Soil Water Effective and Neutral Stresses

    The section contains questions and answers on capillary water and its potential, frost action, capillary siphoning, swelling of soil and stress conditions in soil.

  • Modes of Occurences of Water in Soil
  • Capillary Water
  • Capillary Tension, Capillary Potential and Soil Suction
  • Shrinkage and Swelling of Soil
  • Slaking of Clay and Bulking of Sand
  • Frost Action
  • Stress Condition in Soil :Effective and Actual Pressure
  • Capillary Siphoning
  • 6. Soil Mechanics Questions on Permeability

    The section contains MCQs on darcys law and its validity, poiseuille’s law, permeability test, jodhpur permeamter and capillarity permeability test.

  • Darcys Law
  • Discharge Velocity and Seepage Velocity
  • Validity of Darcy’s Law
  • Poiseuille’s Law
  • Factors Affecting Permeability
  • Determination of Coefficient of Permeability
  • Constant and Falling Head Permeability Test
  • The Jodhpur Permeameter
  • The Capillarity-Permeability Test
  • Permeability of Stratified Soil Deposits
  • 7. Well Hydraulics

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on dupuits theory, recuperation test, pumping in and pumping out tests.

  • Steady Flow to a Well : Dupuits Theory
  • Pumping In and Pumping Out Tests – 1
  • Pumping In and Pumping Out Tests – 2
  • Interference among Wells
  • Recuperation Test
  • 8. Soil Mechanics Multiple Choice Questions on Seepage Analysis

    The section contains questions and answers on seepage pressure, flow net application, laplace equation, khoslas theory, phreatic line of earth dam with and without filter.

  • Head, Gradient and Potential
  • Seepage Pressure and Upward Flow – 1
  • Seepage Pressure and Upward Flow – 2
  • Two Dimensional Flow : Laplace Equation
  • Application of Flow Net
  • Seepage through Anisotropic Soil
  • Phreatic Line of an Earth Dam
  • Phreatic Line of an Earth Dam with No Filter
  • Khoslas Theory
  • 9. Drainage and Dewatering

    The section contains MCQs on shallow and deep well system, electro-osmosis method, seepage analysis, well point system and protective filters.

  • Shallow and Deep Well System
  • Vacuum and Electro-osmosis Method
  • Well Point System
  • Seepage Analysis
  • Protective Filters
  • 10. Elements of Elasticity

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on stress state at point, equilibrium and boundary condition equations, strain components and compatibility equations, hookes law and stress functions.

  • State of Stress at a Point
  • Equilibrium Equations
  • Strain Components and Compatibility Equations
  • Boundary Condition Equations
  • Generalised Hooke’s Law
  • Stress Functions
  • 11. Soil Mechanics MCQ on Stress Distribution

    The section contains questions and answers on stresses, boussinesq equations, pressure distribution diagrams, vertical pressure, equivalent point load method, newmark’s influence chart, contact pressure, triangular loadings, vertical and horizontal pressure.

  • Stresses due to Self Weight
  • Boussinesq Equations
  • Pressure Distribution Diagrams
  • Vertical Pressure – 1
  • Vertical Pressure – 2
  • Equivalent Point Load Method
  • Newmark’s Influence Chart
  • Contact Pressure
  • Vertical and Horizontal Pressure
  • Triangular Loadings
  • 13. Soil Mechanics Questions and Answers on Compaction

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on effect of compaction on soil properties, field compaction test, harvard miniature compaction test, jodhpur mini compactor and standard proctor test.

  • Compaction Introduction
  • Standard Proctor Test
  • Modified Proctor Test and Harvard Miniature Compaction Test
  • The Dietert, Abbot Compaction Test and Jodhpur Mini Compactor Test
  • Field Compaction Test
  • Factors Affecting Compaction
  • Effect of Compaction on Soil Properties
  • 14. Shear Strength

    The section contains questions and answers on mohrs stress circle as well as coulomb failure theory, shear test and also tri axial compression test, unconfined compression test.

  • Mohrs Stress Circle
  • Mohr – Coulomb Failure Theory
  • Direct Shear Test
  • Tri Axial Compression Test
  • Unconfined Compression Test
  • Shear Strength of Cohesive Soil
  • 15. Failure Envelopes & Earth Pressure

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on mohr-colomb failure envelope, earth pressure basics and problems, active and passive states, rankines theory, cohesive soils earth pressure, coulombs wedge theory and culmanns graphical method.

  • The Mohr – Colomb Failure Envelope
  • Earth Pressure Introduction-1
  • Earth Pressure Introduction-2
  • Active and Passive States
  • Earth Pressure at Rest
  • Active Earth Pressure: Rankines Theory-1
  • Active Earth Pressure: Rankine’s Theory-2
  • Active Earth Pressure of Cohesive Soils
  • Passive Earth Pressure: Rankine’s Theory
  • Earth Pressure Problems
  • Coulombs Wedge Theory
  • Culmanns Graphical Method for Active Pressure
  • If you would like to learn "Soil Mechanics" thoroughly, you should attempt to work on the complete set of 1000+ MCQs - multiple choice questions and answers mentioned above. It will immensely help anyone trying to crack an exam or an interview.

    Wish you the best in your endeavor to learn and master Soil Mechanics!

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