What is the difference between plastic limit and liquid limit in soil science terms?
A fine-gained soil can exist in any of several states; which state depends on the amount of water in the soil system. When water is added to a dry soil, each particle is covered with a film of adsorbed water. If the addition of water is continued, the thickness of the water film on a particle increases. Increasing the thickness of the water films permits the particles to slide past one another more easily. The behavior of the soil, therefore, is related to the amount of water in the system. Approximately sixty years ago, Albert Atterberg defined the boundaries of four states in terms of “limits” as follows: Liquid limit: The boundary between the liquid and plastic states; Plastic limit: The boundary between the plastic and semi-solid states; Shrinkage limit: The boundary between the semi-solid and solid states. If there is more water than the liquid limit, the soil will flow with the application of a small force. If there is more water than the plastic limit, a rolled cylinder or threa
