What's the Science behind digging a hole?

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I could google it but that's not as much fun.

My question is what's the science behind digging a hole? It seems when a hole is dug and filled back in there is never enough dirt to level the hole, why is that?

 

[roadhunter]

IT just disappears sometimes.

 

[SPYDERLK]

When earth is just lying there originally it is at consolidated equilibrium and not applying pressure. When you re pack a hole the re fill dirt is mobile and tamping/packing causes outward pressure. The dirt around the hole is forced outward a little.

 

[CalG]

IT just disappears sometimes.

dissipation... It's a social ill. ;-)

 

[MossRoad]

I could google it but that's not as much fun.

My question is what's the science behind digging a hole? It seems when a hole is dug and filled back in there is never enough dirt to level the hole, why is that?

When we dig a hole, then fill it back in, there's always more dirt mounding over it.... you have to account for the space the body takes up.

 

[om21braz]

One man says to his friend "Let's play a game. I'll ask myself a question and if I can answer it - you have to pay me a quarter. Then you'll get your turn." His friend, thinking this sounds like a strange game, agrees to try it. The man says to himself "How can a groundhog dig a hole without leaving any dirt outside of the hole? That's easy, he exclaims - the groundhog can start digging from the inside." "How can the groundhog start digging from the inside?" exclaims his friend. "I don't know, but that's your question." replies the man.

 

[Wagtail]

I could google it but that's not as much fun.

My question is what's the science behind digging a hole? It seems when a hole is dug and filled back in there is never enough dirt to level the hole, why is that?

Worms... and other burrowing critters.

When you refill the hole all of the worm holes/tunnels are 'filled in'.

 

[txndncowboy]

I could google it but that's not as much fun.

My question is what's the science behind digging a hole? It seems when a hole is dug and filled back in there is never enough dirt to level the hole, why is that?

When you dig the hole you pack or compress the outer walls making the hole actually bigger than the hole the dirt came out of.:2cents:

One man says to his friend "Let's play a game. I'll ask myself a question and if I can answer it - you have to pay me a quarter. Then you'll get your turn." His friend, thinking this sounds like a strange game, agrees to try it. The man says to himself "How can a groundhog dig a hole without leaving any dirt outside of the hole? That's easy, he exclaims - the groundhog can start digging from the inside." "How can the groundhog start digging from the inside?" exclaims his friend. "I don't know, but that's your question." replies the man.

Groundhogs are always fat so the obvious answer is they eat the dirt. But then worms do too and they leave dirt above ground. So I give. How?

 

[Gary Fowler]

My Dad was not an educated man but he showed me this phenomenon when I was a kid putting up fence. His claim (and I have verified this many times) is that the ground is affected by the phases of the moon. When the moon is growing toward full (waxing), you can dig a hole and fill it back in packing it as hard as you can and you can never put all the dirt back in the hole. If you dig a hole when the moon is in a decreasing phase (waning), you can dig the same size hole as before, put in a fence post and you wont have enough dirt to completely fill in the hole.
We always put in fencing on the waning of the moon. The reason being that when you packed all the dirt back in the hole, the post never got loose because of the exceptional hard compaction. If you did it on the waxing of the moon, the dirt would become very loose and you will have to go back as pack the dirt around the hole again to firm up the fence post.

Now I know many of you will say B.S. to this, so I will just say go out and try it and then come back to TBN and report your results.

 

[Ken]

Gary I agree with you except here in the hill country of Ozarks the soil is only dust deep.
So when neighbors see you digging after dark there is a question what is going on. then the sheriff talks to the revenuers and then they are digging the hole for you to see what is buried.
After they leave dig your post hole.

Steel fence post if get 6 inches deep will hold a bull from pushing the fence over. and never ever become loose.

Here moles just dig trenches.
ken