How does quicksand make you sink

The worst thing to do is to thrash around in the sand and move your arms and legs through the mixture. You will only succeed in forcing yourself farther down into the liquid sandpit.

The best thing to do is to make slow movements and bring yourself to the surface, then just lie back. You'll float to a safe level.

But, if they relax and try to lay on their back, they can usually float and paddle to safety. When you try pulling your leg out of quicksand, you are working against a vacuum left behind by the movement, according to " The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Also, try spreading your arms and legs far apart and leaning over to increase your surface area , which should allow you to float.

While quicksand remains the hackneyed convention of bad adventure movies, there's very little to be afraid of in real life. As long as you keep a cool head in the situation, the worst result will be a shoe full of wet sand.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Environmental Science. Earth Science. Geologic Processes. How Quicksand Works.

By: Kevin Bonsor. I'm sure you've seen them on movies. What's Quicksand? Quicksand forms when uprising water reduces the friction between sand particles, causing the sand to become "quick. Flowing underground water - The force of the upward water flow opposes the force of gravity , causing the granules of sand to be more buoyant. Earthquakes - The force of the shaking ground can increase the pressure of shallow groundwater, which liquefies sand and silt deposits.

The liquefied surface loses strength, causing buildings or other objects on that surface to sink or fall over. Dry quicksand presents its own special risks.

There are reports of people, vehicles, and entire caravans sinking into it and being lost. Whether this has actually occurred is unknown, but modern science considers it possible. In the movies, escape from quicksand often comes in the form of an outstretched hand, underwater vine, or overhanging branch. The truth is, pulling a person even yourself out of quicksand won't result in freedom. Removing just your foot from quicksand at the rate of 0.

The harder you pull on a branch or a rescuer pulls on you, the worse it gets! Quicksand is no joke and self-rescue isn't always possible. If you step into quicksand, you should:. You don't need to visit a riverbank, beach, or desert to explore the properties of quicksand.

It's easy to make a homemade simulant using cornstarch and water. Just mix:. If you're brave, you can expand the recipe to fill a kiddie pool. It's easy to sink into the mixture. It's nearly impossible to suddenly pull free, but slow movements allow time for the fluid to flow! Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.

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