What is the purpose of shaking a sample during gradation verification?

The purpose of shaking a sample during gradation verification is to separate the particles based on their size. This process is essential in performing a sieve analysis, where the distribution of particle sizes within a sample is measured. By shaking the sample, particles are allowed to move freely and settle according to their size; finer particles pass through smaller openings of the sieves while coarser particles remain on top. This separation provides valuable data about the gradation of the material, which is crucial for determining its suitability for specific applications and ensuring compliance with specifications.

While ensuring even distribution of particles or mixing a sample thoroughly might relate to preparing a uniform sample for testing, they do not specifically address the objective of gradation verification. Reducing the sample size is also not directly relevant, as the focus is on accurately representing the particle size distribution rather than merely decreasing the volume for testing.