Why does there look like there is water on the road when its hot out?

Answer 1

Because its probably a mirage. A mirage is an image of a distant object caused by refraction of light. The puddles on the road are light rays from the sky that are refracted to your eyes.Lets say there is a white car behind you and you notice shiny white areas behind the car. The air just above the road is hotter than the air higher up. Light travels faster in hot air. So light rays from the white car that travel toward the road are bent upward by the hot air. Your brain assumes that the rays travel in a straight line. So the rays look as if they have reflected of a smooth surface.

Answer 2

The phenomenon you are describing is called a mirage. It occurs when hot air near the ground refracts light rays, creating the illusion of water on the road. The air refracts the light in a way that makes the ground appear wet or shiny.