Help! Sinking fast!?

Question

Can anyone tell me exactly what quicksand is, or suggest a website with an in-depth but simple explanation?
For example, what's it made of, how deep is it typically, and where would you expect to find it?

Answer 1

Quicksand is denser than water; the greater the density, the greater the buoyancy of objects within. Any victims found in quicksand likely died for some other reason (i.e. exposure to the elements).

Answer 2

I was walking along a beach in east yorkshire 6 months ago and suddenly a leg went in to the knee. The sandy/gravelly beach was saturated with water in certain areas only. The surface appeared dry, and the difference between beach that could support weight and the hazardous stuff was only a few inches apart.

It would be very difficult to get out if the area was a lot larger and if both legs had gotten stuck. The act of slipping into it could easily harm a muscle, making it very trecherous stuff.
I suspected there were strips of the beach which had underground "streams" or wet spots. When there is sufficient water in the sand/gravel mix, the particles are well lubricated and can move around very quickly if external pressure is applied.
This area was just where the sloping beach met the flat sandy beach.

Answer 3

Hello,

Quicksand is grainy soil with too much water in it (oversatuation). Vibration (like struggling in it or an earthquake) makes this solid ground act like a liquid.

Like Reggie Brown, I like the 'How Stuff Works' web site.

Take care,

Skeptical

Answer 4

Try to see if u can float in water. once u do that u can float the same way in quicksand.

Answer 5

quick sand is basicly a giant puddle of sand and mud and water. where the density of the sand is less then that of water allowing for it to float on top of the water.
go to wikipedia.com and type in quicksand

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksand

Answer 7

check this out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksand

Answer 8

www.howstuffworks.com or howstuffwork.com