OBJECTIVE:

To determine the unit weight of the soil sample.

DISCUSSIONS:
Unit weight determination is a part of the laboratory
experiment of the soil mechanics laboratory.
Unit weight of the soil is also equal to the weight of soil
over its volume.

MATERIALS/APPARATUS

1. Soil sample
2. Paraffin wax
3. Digital weighing scale
4. Plastic graduated cylinder
5. Water
6. Electric Stove
7. Boiling pot

PROCEDURES:

1. Gather all the materials to be used.

2. Weight the soil sample into the digital weighing scale.

3. Record the weight of the soil.

4. Melt the paraffin wax.

5. After the paraffin wax is melted, cover the soil sample with
the paraffin wax.

6. Make sure that the soil sample properly coated.

7. Weight the coated sol sample into the digital weighing

scale.

8. Fill with water for at least 400ml the plastic graduated

cylinder.

9. Carefully place the soil sample into the plastic graduated

cylinder.

10. Then, record its new volume of water inside the plastic
graduated cylinder.

11. Collect all the data and solve for unit weight of the given
soil sample.

Unit Weight DATE CONDUCTED:

KARL NIÑO C. GASQUE Determination September 13, 2016 1
BSCE 4
Plate # 5
DATE SUBMITTED:
September 14, 2016 4
TABLE AND DATA

Sample Weight of Weight of Volume Volume

soil soil + soil +
paraffin paraffin
Soil 52.75g 58.89g Vs=? 4x10^5
Paraffin Wp=? 58.89g Vp=? 4x10^5

FORMULA
𝑊
§= 𝑉

W=w2-w1
𝑊3
V= §p

COMPUTATION:

Gsp=0.9
Ws=52.75g
Ws+Wp=58.89g

For total volume (VT):

VT=Vi-Vf
VT=(820-780)ml
1𝐿 1𝑚^3
VT=40𝑚𝑙 ∗ 1000𝑚𝑙
∗ 1000𝐿

VT=4x10^-5 m^3

For weight of paraffin (Wp):

Wp=(Ws+Wp)-Ws
Wp=58.89g-52.75g
Wp=6.14g

For Unit weight of the paraffin(§p):

§ = Gs ∗ §w
§ =(0.9)(9.81)KN/m^3
§ =8.829KN/m^3

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For volume of paraffin (Vp):
𝑊𝑝
Vp =
§p

1𝑘𝑔
6.14𝑔∗ ∗9.81𝑚/𝑠^2
1000g
Vp = 8829N/m^3

Vp= 6.82x10^-6 m^3

Forvolume of soil (Vs):

Vs=Vt-Vp
Vs=(4x10^-5 – 6.82x10^-6)m^3
` Vs= 3.318x10^-5 m^3

For Unit weight of the Soil (§s):

𝑊𝑠
§s = Vs
1𝑘𝑔
52.75𝑔∗ ∗9.81𝑚/𝑠^2
1000g
§s = 3.318x10−5 𝑚^3

§ = 15.596KN/m^3

SKETCH:

Digital Weighing Scale Graduated Cylinder

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GENERALIZATION:

For this experiment, I learned about how to determine the unit

weight of the soil sample. And while we conducted this experiment,
I observe that our classmates are very noisy while our instructor
is guiding us to do the experiment. They always laughing and
playing while conducting their experiment. And as I finish, I want
to say “Thank You” to my fellow groupmates who helps me to conduct
our laboratory experiment.

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