and why when gas is released the scene in front of you is so wavy
2007-02-03 05:14:58 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
When the pavement gets hot, the air right above the pavement gets hot too -- and hot air is less dense than cool air.
Air refracts light, which means it bends light, like a lens. And the amount of refraction changes as the density changes. Usually you don't notice this, because most of the time all air is the same density and refracts light the same amount. But above a hot pavement, there is a big difference in temperature of the air.
So rays of light from near the horizon, that are nearly parallel to the road surface, suddenly hit that patch of less-dense air, and it is refracted upward, just like it had been reflected.
2007-02-03 05:49:26 · answer #1 · answered by Keith P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i would say that it is the heat comming off the pavment the pavment obsorbs heat have you ever been out in the day with nothing on your feet and the road burns your feet thats what that is
2007-02-03 13:43:15 · answer #2 · answered by thomaswheeler1991 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the sun's waves and sunlight that hits directly on your car and that made a reflection on the road.
2007-02-03 14:35:33 · answer #3 · answered by Shine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun and the heat coming off the pavement. ??
2007-02-03 13:23:07 · answer #4 · answered by Su 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the heat waves reflect off of the concret.
2007-02-03 13:49:39 · answer #5 · answered by kgrace 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋