The Water Cycle

Front

What is the water cycle?

Back

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Front

What is evaporation?

Back

Evaporation is the process where water changes from a liquid to a gas, usually due to heat.

Front

What is condensation?

Back

Condensation is when water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds.

Front

What is precipitation?

Back

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from clouds to the Earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Front

What are clouds?

Back

Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals that form when water vapor condenses in the atmosphere.

Front

What is the role of the sun in the water cycle?

Back

The sun provides the heat energy needed for evaporation to occur.

Front

What is collection in the water cycle?

Back

Collection is when water gathers in bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans after precipitation.

Front

What is snow?

Back

Snow is a form of precipitation that occurs when water vapor freezes into ice crystals before falling to the ground.

Front

What is hail?

Back

Hail is a type of precipitation that forms when strong updrafts in thunderstorms carry water droplets upward, where they freeze into balls of ice.

Front

What is sleet?

Back

Sleet is a form of precipitation that occurs when rain freezes into ice pellets before reaching the ground.