When you’re driving and it’s sunny outside, why does it look like there is water on the road ahead of you but once you get closer it’s gone?

Question

When you’re driving and it’s sunny outside, why does it look like there is water on the road ahead of you but once you get closer it’s gone?

In: Physics

Answer 1

It’s called a mirage.

The asphalt on the road get so hot in the sun, in turn heating the air above it, so when the light from sky is coming down, it actually bends and goes back up.

Then you see the light from the sky, creating illusion of reflection that we associate with a water puddle.

[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage?wprov=sfla1)