A sandy soil has a bearing capacity of 2,000 psf. What is the maximum allowable load for a footing that measures 4 feet by 6 feet?
Correct Answer
B) 48,000 pounds
The footing area is 4 × 6 = 24 square feet. Maximum allowable load = 24 sf × 2,000 psf = 48,000 pounds. This calculation determines the total load the soil can safely support under the footing.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The correct answer is B because we need to multiply the footing area by the soil bearing capacity to find the maximum allowable load. The footing area is 4 feet × 6 feet = 24 square feet. When we multiply 24 square feet by the bearing capacity of 2,000 pounds per square foot, we get 48,000 pounds total allowable load. This represents the maximum load the soil can safely support under this specific footing size.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option C: 24,000 pounds
Option C (96,000 pounds) is incorrect because it doubles the correct answer, possibly from miscalculating the footing area as 48 square feet instead of 24 square feet, or applying the bearing capacity incorrectly.
Option D: 144,000 pounds
Option A (24,000 pounds) is incorrect because it appears to be the result of multiplying the footing area (24 sf) by 1,000 psf instead of the given bearing capacity of 2,000 psf, resulting in half the correct answer.
Memory Technique
Remember 'ABC' - Area × Bearing Capacity = Capacity (maximum load). Always calculate the rectangular area first (length × width), then multiply by the soil's psf rating.
Reference Hint
Look up 'Soil Bearing Capacity' and 'Foundation Design' in the Florida Building Code, Chapter 18 (Soils and Foundations) or structural engineering reference materials.
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