Which term refers to the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids?

The term that refers to the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids is known as moisture content. In materials engineering, particularly in the study of soils and other granular materials, moisture content is a critical parameter. It affects the behavior and properties of materials, including their strength, compaction, and permeability.

Moisture content is typically expressed as a percentage, calculated by dividing the weight of water present in a given mass of material by the weight of the solids in that same mass. This measurement is essential for understanding how materials will perform in various conditions, such as construction and moisture retention in soils.

The other terms refer to different concepts. The void ratio describes the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids in a material, which does not directly relate to weight. Water content can sometimes be used interchangeably with moisture content, but water content often implies a volumetric measure rather than a weight ratio. The dew point refers to the temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor, which is unrelated to the weight ratio of water to solids. This specificity makes moisture content the correct term for the question.