#It what areas does quicksand exist Patch#

While not quite the same as it’s depicted in fictional stories, quicksand does exist, though your chances of coming across a patch are incredibly low. A rare occurrence in nature Credit: pio3/ Shutterstock Instead, it’s the downward motion of the wind near sand dunes that create space, leading to the viscous terrain.

Patches of quicksand are found near springs and riverbanks, where the motion of the water causes additional space between the grains of sand.ĭesert environments can also experience quicksand, though these instances aren’t caused by water. Though it may sound scary, quicksand isn’t commonplace all over the world.

Where does quicksand form? Credit: Wendy Love/ iStock An increased surface area will cause them to float. With the sinking slowed, rather than try to pull themselves out, the individual should spread their arms and legs to increase surface area. The slower they move, the less viscous the quicksand will get. Rather than struggle, a victim of quicksand should stick to calm movements. Even humans, who can more readily process what’s happening to them, will struggle against the downward force of sinking. When a living organism gets caught in quicksand, its gut reaction is panic. Escaping quicksand Credit: Pierce Martin/ Flickr/ CC BY 2.0 Quicksand is often depicted as a death trap, but with the proper reaction, getting caught in it is not a dooming scenario.

Anything that crosses it, from a small animal to a human, will start to sink. As it loses viscosity, the patch of quicksand becomes unable to hold up any weight. With these disturbances, water separates from the grains, causing the liquid-like consistency. Since there is such a space between the grains of sand, when there is a vibration or added weight, they become unstable. It’s more than just sand Credit: ChiccoDodi FC/ iStockĪlong with the air-filled space, quicksand is comprised of a third component - water. There is another component to the unusual formation, however, that helps give it that thick consistency. While composed of sand, quicksand’s qualities are due to the 30% to 70% of air found between each grain. It’s a non-Newtonian liquid, meaning it doesn’t follow the characteristics of Newton’s Law of Viscosity. Though it has the word “sand” in its name, quicksand is not just an unstable patch of solid granules. Just as depicted in the movies, quicksand appears to have a solid state, but when touched, turns into a gelatinous liquid that can trap a person. While it may sound like the creation of a science-fiction writer, quicksand is absolutely real. Since it’s likely a question that’s been burning a hole in your mind, it seems appropriate to answer the question once and for all: Is quicksand a real thing? Does quicksand exist? Credit: NPS/ Jacob W. Even if you've heard stories about run-ins with it, have you ever met somebody who’s actually come face to face with quicksand? You’ve watched cartoon characters sink into it, seen depictions of it on the Silver Screen, and may have even heard a tale or two about it, but is quicksand even real? Maybe it’s not something you’ve ever considered, but there is a real possibility that the notion of quicksand was a fictional creation.

It what areas does quicksand exist