“Quicksand can suck you under completely”

The dramatic image of someone being completely swallowed by quicksand, often leaving only a hat behind, is a pervasive misconception largely fueled by adventure movies and television shows. This trope gained significant traction in popular culture, particularly peaking in films during the 1960s, creating a widespread belief in its deadly suction power. However, the scientific reality of quicksand is far less sensational, though still capable of posing a genuine threat.

The truth is, quicksand is a mixture of sand, clay, and water that is significantly denser than the human body. While human density is approximately 1 gram per cubic centimeter, quicksand boasts a density of about 2 grams per cubic centimeter. This difference in density means that, much like a person floats in water, a human will float on quicksand. It is physically impossible to be fully submerged; people typically sink only to their waist or chest before buoyancy takes over.

The reason quicksand can trap people is its unique property as a non-Newtonian fluid. When undisturbed, it can appear solid, but even a small amount of stress, such as a person stepping on it, causes it to liquefy rapidly. Struggling or rapid movements can make a person sink deeper into the liquefied mixture. However, the real danger isn't being pulled under completely, but rather becoming immobilized. Being stuck in quicksand leaves individuals vulnerable to other serious threats like exposure to the elements, such as dehydration or hypothermia, or, in coastal areas where quicksand often forms, drowning from rising tides.