Which of the following reflects the correct approach to moisture content analysis?

The approach to moisture content analysis is based on understanding the relationship between the mass of the soil and the mass of moisture present in that soil. Selecting the option that involves comparing the mass of moisture to the mass of dry soil is crucial because moisture content is typically expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the soil.

In this context, moisture content is calculated using the formula:

[

\text{Moisture Content} = \left( \frac{\text{Mass of Moisture}}{\text{Mass of Dry Soil}} \right) \times 100

]

This means that to determine accurate moisture content, one must know both the mass of the moisture and the mass of the dry soil, allowing for a precise calculation of moisture percentage.

Other approaches, like using only the mass of wet soil, would not provide the necessary information to accurately derive moisture content, as it does not account for the moisture mass relative to the dry soil mass. Measuring volumetric water content, while relevant for assessing the water present, does not translate directly into moisture content calculations as typically used in aggregate base testing contexts.