View Full Version : Porosity&Permeability....?(help Please)


certified psycho
03-26-04, 03:22 PM
I have test coming up on this shit and haven't have rat's ass on how to do this. Will somebody please help me. :(

Starthane Xyzth
03-27-04, 10:15 AM
Are you looking for simple definitions? Off the top of my head:

Porosity would be the number and size of open channels in a solid structure, enabling liquids (usually water) &/or gases to pass through it;

Permeability would be the molecular-barrier quality of a solid structure, or the degree to which loose molecules can pass through it - such as the ability of a cell membrane to separate 2 liquids of different salt content, against the osmotic potential which will try to draw solute particles from the stronger solution into the weaker.

If you're after mathematical models and formulae for each, I'd have to look them up. They must exist online somewhere.

certified psycho
03-27-04, 10:18 AM
I am looking for any types of defination. Any thing helps.

Princess
03-27-04, 03:20 PM
Porosity is the volume of open space relative to the total rock volume. It is a ratio so it is unitless and is a number less than 1.

Permeability is the extent to which a fluid will move through the rock or soil. Porosity and permeability are related but high porosity doesn’t necessarily correlate to good permeability. Basalt and pumice have high porosity but poor permeability because the pores are not interconnected.

What else do you want to know?

certified psycho
03-28-04, 06:55 PM
That about it. Thanks. :D