Hydrosphere ONLY

Front

What drives the water cycle?

Back

The Sun drives the water cycle by providing the energy needed for evaporation and transpiration.

Front

True or False: Water is constantly being recycled because of the water cycle.

Back

True

Front

What is runoff in the water cycle?

Back

Runoff is the flow of water that occurs when excess water from rain, melting snow, or other sources flows over the ground and into bodies of water.

Front

What is a watershed?

Back

A watershed is all the land that contributes water to a particular river or stream.

Front

What is a drainage basin?

Back

A drainage basin is an area made up of many watersheds that contributes water to a larger body of water.

Front

What happens to the water cycle if the Sun is removed?

Back

The water cycle would no longer occur because the Sun provides the energy for evaporation and transpiration.

Front

Define evaporation in the context of the water cycle.

Back

Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas (water vapor) due to heat from the Sun.

Front

What is condensation in the water cycle?

Back

Condensation is the process by which water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds.

Front

What is precipitation?

Back

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

Front

What role do plants play in the water cycle?

Back

Plants contribute to the water cycle through transpiration, where they release water vapor into the air from their leaves.