Permeability — Science definition
How readily water passes through connected pores.
Where it is taught
- Groundwater, Watersheds & Water Budgets — Rocks, Landscapes & Water, Earth & Space Science, Grade 9
In use
Permeability describes how readily connected pores transmit water.
Groundwater, Watersheds & Water Budgets
Questions using permeability
Problem 1
High porosity always guarantees high permeability.
- True
- False
Answer and explanation
False
Pores must be well connected and large enough to transmit water readily.
Problem 2
Permeability describes how easily
- a rock melts
- water moves through connected pores
- a rock breaks
- minerals form
Answer and explanation
water moves through connected pores
A rock can be porous but impermeable if the pores are not connected.