(Also moisture content (m)) The ratio between the mass of water (evaporated at 105°C) and the mass of solid grains in a body of soil.
w = mass of water / mass of solids.
May be obtained by drying a sample of the soil at 105°C to constant weight and then
w = (wet weight - dry weight) / dry weight.
water table
The level in a body of soil at which the hydrostatic water pressure is zero.
(See also piezometric surface)
weight (W)
The force with which a body is attracted towards the centre of the Earth; equal to the mass of the body multiplied by acceleration due to gravity; measured in newtons (N), kilonewtons (kN) or meganewtons (MN); 1 kg at the surface of the Earth is attracted by a gravitational acceleration of 9.81 m/s² and exerts a force of 9.81 N (an apple exerts a force of about 1N). weight of soil grains (Ws)
The weight of soil grains (excluding interstitial and adsorbed water) in a body of soil; equal to the dry weight of a soil. weight of water (Ww)
The weight of water contained in the voids of a body of soil.