If the contour on a grading plan is 5 feet with contours spaced at 150 feet, what is the slope?

To determine the slope when given the change in elevation and the horizontal distance, you can use the formula:

[ \text{slope} = \frac{\text{change in elevation}}{\text{horizontal distance}} ]

In this case, the change in elevation is 5 feet, and the horizontal distance is 150 feet. Plugging these values into the formula gives:

[ \text{slope} = \frac{5 \text{ feet}}{150 \text{ feet}} = \frac{1}{30} ]

Converting this fraction into decimal form:

[ \frac{1}{30} \approx 0.0333 ]

This decimal rounds to approximately 0.03. Therefore, the slope is accurately represented as 0.03, which corresponds to the second option. Understanding how to calculate slope using elevation changes and horizontal distances is crucial in grading and excavating, as it informs decisions about drainage and potential erosion issues for the project.