It's true you don't sink in quicksand until you're submerged. Strong forces stiffen quicksand, making it more like a solid than a liquid, so pulling and jerking only make a bad situation worse.Ī quick Google search reveals most writers don't have personal experience with quicksand or consult water rescue experts. The trick to escaping the trap is to move slowly and try to float. You'll only sink halfway, no matter how badly you freak out.ĭisturbing quicksand makes it flow like a liquid, but gravity acts against you. However, the average human has a density of about 1 gram per milliliter, while the average quicksand density is about 2 grams per milliliter. The sand around you also settles into place.Ĭontinued movement (like thrashing around from panic) keeps the mixture more like a liquid, so you sink further. If you stop after the first step, the sand particles beneath you get compressed by your weight. Stepping on it initially lowers the viscosity, so you sink. Undisturbed quicksand appears solid, but it's really a gel. What this means it can change its ability to flow (viscosity) in response to stress. Technically speaking, quicksand is a non-Newtonian fluid. If you have to rescue yourself, wriggle your legs to make the quicksand more fluid while trying to sit back into the quicksand to increase your body's surface area.
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