A mirage is when the air makes things look like they’re not there. Imagine you're walking through a hot desert, and you see what looks like water in the distance, but it disappears as you get closer. That’s because the hot ground warms up the air near it, and that warm air bends light from far away, making things look like they’re in places they’re not.
Examples
- You see a shimmering lake on a hot day, but it’s just the road in front of you.
- A desert traveler thinks there is water ahead, only to find more sand.
- On a sunny highway, the road looks wet and wavy.
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See also
- What Causes a ‘Mirage’ on the Road?
- What Causes a Mirage on a Hot Day?
- What Causes a ‘Mirage’ and How Is It Different from an Illusion?
- How Do Mirrors Really Work?
- What Causes ‘Mirages’ in the Desert?
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