Water Graduated cylinder
6 clear, plastic cups
Permanent marker
Metric ruler
Large, medium, and small pebbles (about 1 cup each)
Gravel, sand, and dirt (about 1 cup each)
Funnel
3 coffee filters
Ring stand
Stopwatch or watch with a second hand
Directions
Measuring Porosity

Measure a clear plastic cup with the ruler. Use the marker to draw a line about two-thirds up the cup. Mark two more cups with the same measurement.
Fill the first cup to the line with large pebbles. Label the cup.
Fill and label the second cup with medium pebbles.
Fill and label the third cup with small pebbles.
Fill the graduated cylinder with 100 ml of water. Slowly pour the water into the first cup. Stop when the water reaches the rim of the cup. Record the amount of water left in the graduated cylinder.
Calculate the amount of empty space in each cup by subtracting the amount of water left in the graduated cylinder from 100 ml. For example, if the graduated cylinder has 40 ml left after pouring water into the cup, then the sample has 60 ml of empty space (100 ml - 40 ml = 60 ml).
Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the remaining two cups.
Measuring Permeability

Line the funnel with a coffee filter and place it in the ring stand.
Place a plastic cup directly below the funnel.
Fill the funnel with gravel.
Fill the graduated cylinder with 100 ml of water. Slowly pour the water into the funnel.
Time how long it takes for the water to flow through the gravel into the cup. Stop timing after ten minutes.
Remove the gravel and the filter. Replace with a new filter. Fill the new filter with sand and repeat steps 4 and 5.
Remove the sand and the filter. Replace with a new filter. Fill the new filter with dirt and repeat steps 4 and 5.
Questions
Answer the following questions below.

Which rock sample had the most porosity? Which sample had the least?
How much empty space was there in the medium-sized rock sample?
How much time did it take the water to flow through the gravel? The sand? What about the dirt?
Which sample is the most permeable?