Which statement describes the initial quantity of oven-dried sand used to start the test (reiterated for emphasis)?

• A. This procedure begins with approximately 1.5 kg of oven dried sand.
• B. This procedure begins with approximately 1 kg of oven dried sand.
• C. This procedure begins with 2.0 kg of oven dried sand.
• D. This procedure begins with 0.25 kg of oven dried sand.

Answer: (B)

Starting with a measured, oven-dried quantity of sand provides a stable, moisture-free baseline for the test. About one kilogram is used because it’s a practical, representative amount that the equipment can handle consistently and that will dry evenly in the oven. This size is large enough to fill the required container reliably and yield repeatable measurements, yet small enough to dry efficiently and avoid moisture pockets that would skew results. Using noticeably more would mean longer drying times and potential density variations, while using too little could result in an incomplete fill and non-representative data. So, approximately one kilogram of oven-dried sand is the standard starting amount.