ANS:A - Shrinkage limit

The shrinkage limit of soil is the moisture content at which the soil no longer undergoes a reduction in volume upon further drying. It marks the point where all free water has been removed from the soil, and the soil particles are held together by the surface tension of the remaining water. Understanding the shrinkage limit is crucial for predicting volume changes in soil during drying processes, especially in construction and geotechnical engineering applications. It helps engineers design structures and foundations that can withstand the volume changes associated with variations in soil moisture content.