Question

Hydraulic conductivity (\(K\)) is affected directly by which factor?

• A. Soil texture and fluid viscosity
• B. Catchment area
• C. Rainfall duration
• D. Basin slope

Hint:

Hydraulic conductivity depends on \[ \boxed{ \begin{aligned} &\text{Soil texture}\\ &\text{Void ratio}\\ &\text{Fluid viscosity}\\ &\text{Temperature} \end{aligned} } \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Recall what hydraulic conductivity measures.
Hydraulic conductivity, $K$, tells us how easily a fluid can move through a porous material like soil.
Step 2: Think about what controls that ease of movement.
The size, shape and connectivity of the soil's pore spaces set how much resistance the flow faces, and the viscosity of the fluid determines how easily it flows through those pores.
Step 3: Rule out the catchment scale factors.
Catchment area, rainfall duration and basin slope describe surface hydrology at a much larger scale and have no direct bearing on this soil and fluid property.
\[ \boxed{\text{Soil texture and fluid viscosity}} \]