if three 30 cm lengths of glass tubes are tightly packed with clay, sand and loamy soils respectively and then stood in a beaker of water for one week, the level of water will be
Take Free Practice Test On 2026 JAMB UTME, Post UTME, WAEC SSCE, GCE, NECO SSCE
Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation:
The correct answer is **D: highest in the tube with sandy soil**.
**Explanation:**
In the setup described, water will move through the soils by a process called **capillary action** or **water retention**. Different soils have different abilities to retain or allow water to pass through them:
- **Clay soil** has very fine particles and tends to retain water very well. The water moves slowly through the clay, so the level of water in the clay-packed tube will rise, but not as much.
- **Loamy soil** is a mix of sand, silt, and clay, and has moderate water retention and permeability. The water level in the tube with loamy soil will be higher than in the clay but lower than in the sandy soil.
- **Sandy soil** has large particles and poor water retention. It allows water to pass through quickly, leading to the highest water level in the sandy soil tube because less water is held back, and more water will rise due to capillary action.
Thus, the water level will be **highest in the sandy soil** tube.
The correct answer is **D: highest in the tube with sandy soil**.
**Explanation:**
In the setup described, water will move through the soils by a process called **capillary action** or **water retention**. Different soils have different abilities to retain or allow water to pass through them:
- **Clay soil** has very fine particles and tends to retain water very well. The water moves slowly through the clay, so the level of water in the clay-packed tube will rise, but not as much.
- **Loamy soil** is a mix of sand, silt, and clay, and has moderate water retention and permeability. The water level in the tube with loamy soil will be higher than in the clay but lower than in the sandy soil.
- **Sandy soil** has large particles and poor water retention. It allows water to pass through quickly, leading to the highest water level in the sandy soil tube because less water is held back, and more water will rise due to capillary action.
Thus, the water level will be **highest in the sandy soil** tube.