Explaining the phenomenon of foaming sand like boiling water

Dry sand can be wavy, bubbling and flowing like water thanks to the liquefaction process.

The phenomenon of flowing and bubbling sand in some scientific experiments is actually due to pumping air into the sand , the Mother Nature Network reported on September 21.

This process is called liquefaction , explains Noel Kirkpatrick, editor at Mother Nature Network. Air is pumped into the sand tank from below. This amount of air separates the grains of sand, causing them to move more freely and flexibly, like particles in liquids. The result is wavy sand, bubbling and flowing like water.

Sand ripples, bubbles and flows like water.

This is similar to the process that solids turn into liquid. In solid state, solid particles are tightly packed. When melted, the particles separate and can move or slide over each other, becoming liquid. The difference is that the sand does not really change the material state but only gets pumped into the air.

Liquefied imitation phenomenon has many practical applications. It is used in cement transport, food handling and development of high octane fuels.

The phenomenon of boiling sand is like water.(Video: YouTube).