A excavator with a 2.5 cubic yard bucket is loading trucks for a site cut operation. If the bucket has an 80% fill factor and the soil has a 25% swell factor, what is the actual volume of in-place soil moved per bucket load?
Correct Answer
A) 1.6 cubic yards
Bucket capacity: 2.5 × 0.80 = 2.0 cubic yards loose. Converting to in-place volume: 2.0 ÷ 1.25 = 1.6 cubic yards of in-place soil per load.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The correct answer is A because we must account for both the fill factor and swell factor when calculating in-place soil volume. First, we calculate the actual loose volume moved: 2.5 × 0.80 = 2.0 cubic yards. Then we convert from loose volume to in-place volume by dividing by the swell factor: 2.0 ÷ 1.25 = 1.6 cubic yards. This represents the actual volume of undisturbed soil that was excavated.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 2.0 cubic yards
This answer (2.0 cubic yards) represents only the loose volume after applying the fill factor, but fails to account for the swell factor conversion back to in-place volume.
Option C: 2.5 cubic yards
This answer (2.5 cubic yards) is the bucket's rated capacity and ignores both the fill factor (bucket doesn't fill completely) and the swell factor (soil expands when excavated).
Option D: 3.1 cubic yards
This answer (3.1 cubic yards) incorrectly multiplies by the swell factor instead of dividing, and represents an impossible scenario where more in-place soil exists than the bucket's rated capacity.
Memory Technique
Remember 'FIST': Fill factor First (multiply), then Swell factor conversion (divide by 1 + swell %). Soil 'swells' when dug up, so divide to get back to original size.
Reference Hint
Look up earthwork calculations and soil volume conversions in the construction management or site work chapters of your reference manual.
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