P a g e | 1‐1
Chapter 1
Geotechnical Engineering – A Historical Perspective
1. Select the incorrect statement.
(a) Soil is defined as the cemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic
matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid
particles.
(b) Soil is used as a construction material in various civil engineering projects.
(c) Soil mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical
properties of soil and the behaviour of soil masses subjected to various types of forces.
(d) Geotechnical engineering deals with the application of the principles of soil mechanics
and rock mechanics to the design of foundations, retaining structures and earth
structures.
2. Which one of the following problems is related to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy?
(a) Slope instability
(b) Weakness in foundation soil
(c) Structural instability
(d) All of the above
3. During Classical Soil Mechanics period, Phase I (1776-1856), most of the geotechnical
engineering developments came from engineers and scientists in
(a) England.
(b) Germany.
(c) Italy.
(d) France.
4. Natural slope of granular materials such as soils is generally referred to as
(a) friction angle.
(b) slope angle.
(c) angle of repose.
(d) none of the above.
5. N/m3 is the SI unit of
(a) Weight.
(b) unit weight.
(c) density.
(d) none of the above.
6. The unit of water is
(a) 9.8 kN/m3.
(b) 13.4 kN/m3.
(c) 16.0 kN/m3.
(d) 18.9 kN/m3.
7. Who was the first to use the symbol φ for soil friction angle?
(a) Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736–1806)
(b) Jean Victor Poncelet (1788–1867)
(c) William John Macquorn Rankine (1820–1872)
(d) Karl Terzaghi (1883–1963)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 1
Geotechnical Engineering – A Historical Perspective
1. Select the incorrect statement.
(a) Soil is defined as the cemented aggregate of mineral grains and decayed organic
matter (solid particles) with liquid and gas in the empty spaces between the solid
particles.
(b) Soil is used as a construction material in various civil engineering projects.
(c) Soil mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the study of the physical
properties of soil and the behaviour of soil masses subjected to various types of forces.
(d) Geotechnical engineering deals with the application of the principles of soil mechanics
and rock mechanics to the design of foundations, retaining structures and earth
structures.
2. Which one of the following problems is related to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy?
(a) Slope instability
(b) Weakness in foundation soil
(c) Structural instability
(d) All of the above
3. During Classical Soil Mechanics period, Phase I (1776-1856), most of the geotechnical
engineering developments came from engineers and scientists in
(a) England.
(b) Germany.
(c) Italy.
(d) France.
4. Natural slope of granular materials such as soils is generally referred to as
(a) friction angle.
(b) slope angle.
(c) angle of repose.
(d) none of the above.
5. N/m3 is the SI unit of
(a) Weight.
(b) unit weight.
(c) density.
(d) none of the above.
6. The unit of water is
(a) 9.8 kN/m3.
(b) 13.4 kN/m3.
(c) 16.0 kN/m3.
(d) 18.9 kN/m3.
7. Who was the first to use the symbol φ for soil friction angle?
(a) Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736–1806)
(b) Jean Victor Poncelet (1788–1867)
(c) William John Macquorn Rankine (1820–1872)
(d) Karl Terzaghi (1883–1963)
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
