If all you learned about quicksand came from watching movies, then you are dangerously misinformed. If you step into quicksand in real life, you won't sink until you drown. In real life things are quite different.
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It is a mixture of two phases of matter that come together to produce a surface that appears solid. Sand disintegrates according to weight or vibration. It can be a mixture of sand and water, silt and water, clay and water, silt and water or even sand and air.
The solid component accounts for most of the mass. There are larger spaces between the particles than you would find in dry sand. The interesting mechanical properties of quicksand are bad news for unsuspecting people.
You can find quicksand all over the world, when conditions are right. It is most common near coastlines, swamps or along riverbanks. Quicksand can form in standing water, when saturated sand is agitated, or when soil is exposed to upward flowing water.
There is also a dry version, which can occur in deserts. Scientists believe that this type of quicksand forms when very fine sand forms a layer of sediment over more granular sand. Dry quicksand was considered a potential hazard during the Apollo missions.
Technically speaking, quicksand is a non-Newtonian fluid. It can change its ability to flow (viscosity) in response to stress. Undisturbed quicksand looks solid but is really a gel. Stepping on it initially lowers the stickiness, so you sink.
If you stop after the first step, the sand particles below you are compressed by your weight. The continuous motion (like thrashing around in a panic) keeps the mixture more like a liquid, so you sink deeper.
The truth is, pulling a person (even yourself) out of quicksand will not result in freedom. Removing just one foot from quicksand at a speed of 0.01 meters per second requires the same force as lifting a car. The more you pull a branch or a rescuer pulls you, the worse it gets!
Becoming lighter makes it easier to escape. Slowly float out. The best way to do this is to try and increase your surface area by leaning back into the quicksand and slowly moving your legs to liquefy the water around them. Don't kick wildly.
If you are very close to dry land, sit down and slowly work your feet or lower legs. Do not panic. Wiggle your feet as you lean back to increase your surface area. Try to float. If there is a tide, you can use your hands to mix in more water and clean off some of the sand.