Why Do We See Mirages on Hot Days?

Imagine you're walking on a hot day, and the road looks like it's full of water. That’s a mirage! It happens because the heat from the ground warms up the air just above it. When light travels through warm air, it bends, kind of like when you look at something in a pool of water and it seems closer than it is. This bending makes things far away look closer, or even creates an illusion that looks like water on the road.