Remove the lid and place the can, contents, and lid in the oven or pan to dry. In an electric oven, maintain the temperature between 212F and 230F (105C 10C); dry the sample for at least 8 hreven longer for clay or silt. Then weigh the dry can, contents, and lid.

Record the results on a form like the one shown in figure 15-27. In the example shown in

Figure 15-27.-Data sheet for moisture content tests.

figure 15-27, three tests (called runs) were made, using cans numbered 5, 10, and 1. Online D (weight of tare), record the weight of each can. Note that although the cans are identical in appearance, they vary slightly in weight. Online A (weight of tare and wet soil), record the weight of each can with wet contents. On line B (weight of tare and dry soil), record the weight of each can with contents after drying.

Online C, Ww (weight of water in the soil sample) was obtained by subtracting (B) from (A). On line E, Ws (weight of dry soil) was obtained by subtracting (D) from (B).

The line labeled "water content, w," shows the results obtained by substituting the known values in the following formula:

The average of these three values, or 12.7 percent, is the value of w (percentage of moisture content) for the sample.