What Causes a ‘Mirage’ and How Does It Work?

A mirage is like a magic trick played by the sun and light. When it’s really hot, the ground gets super warm and starts to heat up the air just above it. This warm air is less dense than cool air, so light bends, just like when you look at a straw in a glass of water and it seems bent. The brain thinks there's water, but it’s actually just a mirage.

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Examples

  1. A mirage looks like a shimmering lake on a hot road.
  2. You might see a person walking on water in a desert.
  3. Sometimes a mirage makes distant mountains appear closer.

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Categories: Physics · optics· refraction· heat· illusion