SSC 200 Exam 3 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2026/2027
Cohesion - Answers Attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding; explains
surface tension.
Adhesion - Answers Attraction between water molecules and solid surfaces (soil particles);
causes water to stick to soil.
Surface tension - Answers Result of cohesive forces at the air-water interface that allow water
to resist external force.
Capillarity - Answers Movement of water in small pores or wicks caused by cohesion + adhesion;
stronger in smaller pores.
Gravitational potential - Answers Positive energy from gravity pulling water downward; drains
macropores.
Matric potential - Answers Negative potential from adhesion/cohesion in pores; strongest in
small pores; controls plant water uptake.
Osmotic potential - Answers Negative potential from dissolved salts; water moves from low to
high salt concentration.
Total water potential - Answers Sum of gravitational + matric + osmotic; determines water-flow
direction.
Macropores - Answers Large pores that drain quickly; between saturation and field capacity;
water unavailable to plants.
Mesopores - Answers Medium pores holding capillary water between field capacity and wilting
point; plant-available.
Micropores - Answers Very small pores; water held too tightly (between wilting point and oven
dry); unavailable.
Saturation - Answers All pores filled with water; no air.
Field capacity - Answers Water held against gravity after drainage stops; best for plant growth.
Wilting point - Answers Water held too tightly for plants to extract.
Air dry / Hygroscopic - Answers Only thin film of adhesive water remains; not usable.
Oven dry - Answers No water remaining in soil.
Gravitational water - Answers Between saturation and field capacity; drains freely; not available.
Plant-available water - Answers Between field capacity and wilting point; stored in mesopores.
Cohesion - Answers Attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding; explains
surface tension.
Adhesion - Answers Attraction between water molecules and solid surfaces (soil particles);
causes water to stick to soil.
Surface tension - Answers Result of cohesive forces at the air-water interface that allow water
to resist external force.
Capillarity - Answers Movement of water in small pores or wicks caused by cohesion + adhesion;
stronger in smaller pores.
Gravitational potential - Answers Positive energy from gravity pulling water downward; drains
macropores.
Matric potential - Answers Negative potential from adhesion/cohesion in pores; strongest in
small pores; controls plant water uptake.
Osmotic potential - Answers Negative potential from dissolved salts; water moves from low to
high salt concentration.
Total water potential - Answers Sum of gravitational + matric + osmotic; determines water-flow
direction.
Macropores - Answers Large pores that drain quickly; between saturation and field capacity;
water unavailable to plants.
Mesopores - Answers Medium pores holding capillary water between field capacity and wilting
point; plant-available.
Micropores - Answers Very small pores; water held too tightly (between wilting point and oven
dry); unavailable.
Saturation - Answers All pores filled with water; no air.
Field capacity - Answers Water held against gravity after drainage stops; best for plant growth.
Wilting point - Answers Water held too tightly for plants to extract.
Air dry / Hygroscopic - Answers Only thin film of adhesive water remains; not usable.
Oven dry - Answers No water remaining in soil.
Gravitational water - Answers Between saturation and field capacity; drains freely; not available.
Plant-available water - Answers Between field capacity and wilting point; stored in mesopores.
