The Mystery of the 'Wet' Asphalt: Explained

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Dry asphalt can appear wet on hot, sunny days due to the refraction of light caused by the warm air above it. The heat from the asphalt warms the surrounding air, making it less dense and altering how light travels. This refraction creates a visual effect that resembles a wet surface, reflecting the sky instead of the sun. The phenomenon is similar to a mirage, where the viewer perceives a false image. Understanding this optical illusion clarifies why asphalt can look deceptively shiny in heat.
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Why does dry asphalt appear to be wet on a hot, sunny day?
 
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The hot asphalt warms the air around it, so when light strikes it, it's refracted upwards. (Hot air is less dense than cold air.) The refracted ray then meets your eye appearing to be shining/glowing from the asphalt instead of the sun/sky, a wet mirage develops which actually looks like the sky.
 
Check out this link on mirage!
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/science_sky/78177
 
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