The Method B procedure requires that the specimen soak in water in the volumeter for 10 minutes.

The Method B procedure requires that the specimen soak in water in the volumeter for 10 minutes.

• A. 5 minutes
• B. 10 minutes
• C. 15 minutes
• D. 20 minutes

Answer: (B)

In this Method B procedure, the key idea is ensuring the specimen is properly saturated so its volume can be measured accurately by water displacement in the volumeter. Soaking for the specified ten minutes gives water enough time to penetrate all pore spaces so the volume you read reflects the true size of the solid, not just the volume plus unreached air voids. If the soak were shorter, some pores might remain air-filled, which would underestimate the specimen’s volume; if it were longer, it could introduce unnecessary moisture effects or slow down testing without improving accuracy. The ten-minute duration, therefore, is chosen to provide consistent, reproducible saturation across tests.

In this Method B procedure, the key idea is ensuring the specimen is properly saturated so its volume can be measured accurately by water displacement in the volumeter. Soaking for the specified ten minutes gives water enough time to penetrate all pore spaces so the volume you read reflects the true size of the solid, not just the volume plus unreached air voids. If the soak were shorter, some pores might remain air-filled, which would underestimate the specimen’s volume; if it were longer, it could introduce unnecessary moisture effects or slow down testing without improving accuracy. The ten-minute duration, therefore, is chosen to provide consistent, reproducible saturation across tests.