The Plasticity Index (PI) is defined as which of the following relations between LL and PL?

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Multiple Choice

The Plasticity Index (PI) is defined as which of the following relations between LL and PL?

Explanation:
The Plasticity Index measures the width of the moisture content range where soil behaves plastically. It is defined as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit: PI = LL − PL. The liquid limit is the water content at which soil flows like a liquid, while the plastic limit is the water content at which it changes from plastic to semisolid. Subtracting PL from LL gives the span of moisture contents over which the soil remains plastic. A larger PI indicates more clay and greater plasticity. The other relations don’t capture this plasticity range appropriately: PL − LL would be negative, LL + PL has no direct physical meaning for plasticity, and LL ÷ PL is not the standard measure used.

The Plasticity Index measures the width of the moisture content range where soil behaves plastically. It is defined as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit: PI = LL − PL. The liquid limit is the water content at which soil flows like a liquid, while the plastic limit is the water content at which it changes from plastic to semisolid. Subtracting PL from LL gives the span of moisture contents over which the soil remains plastic. A larger PI indicates more clay and greater plasticity. The other relations don’t capture this plasticity range appropriately: PL − LL would be negative, LL + PL has no direct physical meaning for plasticity, and LL ÷ PL is not the standard measure used.

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