Why do you see reflections in the street when it is hot? as if there was a puddle there.?

Answer 1

That is the "mirage" phenomenon explained in physics as a occurence of Total Internal Reflection of light in the air surronding the pavement. I remember that in high school physics class. Here's a link that shows a bit of an explanation.

http://www.hk-phy.org/iq/mirage/mirage_e.html

Answer 2

Ah, the oasis mirage. It has to do with the hot air rising from the pavement, much hotter than the air immediately above. The hotter air has a different index of refraction from the cooler air, and actually causes a reflection to seem to appear beneath the roadway. Your mind interprets the imaginary reflection as evidence of a puddle of water causing it. It has nothing to do with water vapor. it is simply differences in the index of refraction of air at different temperatures.

In desert mirages, there is no water and no water vapor.

The link given by Dreamer below is very nice.

There are a lot of idiotic answers in here, and you have to be careful which ones to ignore.

Answer 3

the pavement absorbs heat and gives off heat as well. the waviness you see are the heat molecules bouncing against each other while they rise up and dissipate into the cooler air. heat travels from a high temperature gradient to a lower one.

Answer 4

Heat coming off the street causes a 'shimmering' effect.


Simply, heat radiation.

Answer 5

Tar burning off the street

Answer 6

water evaporation causes a vapor when it is rising off the surface this reflection is the mirage we see on roads

Answer 7

Mirage. Its from the heat and gas.

Answer 8

its an optical illuision however its spellt ive been drinking,

Answer 9

something to do with the heat waves reflecting light........................... i think............