During a cut and fill operation, the contractor discovers that 1,200 cubic yards of soil must be moved from the cut area to the fill area. If the soil has a swell factor of 25%, how many cubic yards will need to be hauled?
Correct Answer
C) 1,500 cubic yards
When soil is excavated, it swells due to loosening. With a 25% swell factor, the volume increases by 25%. Therefore, 1,200 cubic yards × 1.25 = 1,500 cubic yards will need to be hauled.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option C is correct because when soil is excavated from its natural state, it expands or 'swells' due to the loosening of particles and increased air voids. The 25% swell factor means the volume increases by 25% from its original in-place volume. To calculate the hauled volume, you multiply the in-place volume by (1 + swell factor percentage), which gives 1,200 × 1.25 = 1,500 cubic yards. This represents the actual volume that trucks will need to transport from the cut to fill areas.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 1,200 cubic yards
Option A incorrectly applies shrinkage instead of swell, calculating 1,200 ÷ 1.25 = 960 cubic yards, which would be the compacted volume rather than the loose hauled volume.
Option B: 1,800 cubic yards
Option D incorrectly calculates 1,200 × 1.5 = 1,800 cubic yards, which would represent a 50% swell factor rather than the given 25% swell factor.
Option D: 960 cubic yards
Option B ignores the swell factor entirely, assuming the hauled volume equals the in-place volume, which is incorrect since excavated soil always increases in volume when disturbed.
Memory Technique
Remember 'SWELL = SELL MORE' - when soil swells, you need to haul MORE volume than what was originally in place, so always multiply by a number greater than 1.
Reference Hint
Look up 'Earthwork and Excavation' or 'Soil Volume Changes' in construction management references, typically found in site work or earthwork chapters.
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