The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle

Water Cycle Vocabulary

• Precipitation - Water that falls to the earth as rain, sleet, hail and snow

• Evaporation - Water that gets heated and turns into a gas, (water vapor).

• Condensation - Water that cools and changes from water vapor to liquid water.

On Earth, Water if found in all three states of matter

• Solid - Ice

• Liquid - Water

• Gas - Water Vapor

Evaporation starts with the sun.

When the sun heats water, it changes from a liquid into a gas, or water vapor and rises up to form the clouds we see.

Evaporation starts with the sun.

Look at the word evaporation. It has the word VAPOR in the middle. Remember Evaporation occurs when water is heated and turns into water vapor.

Condensation

When water rises high above the earth, it cools changes back into liquid or ice . Liquid and Ice or more dense than water vapor.

Condensation

The word condensation has the word dens in the middle. Use this to help you remember the word dense. When water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water and ice, it becomes more dense and heavier.

Condensation can also be seen on a glass fill with a cold drink. Water vapor in the air touches it and cools back into liquid water.

Precipitation occurs when water drops that make up clouds get heavy and fall back to the earth.

Think of taking a sip of water when you see precipitation.

• All the plants and animals get to drink water or sip water when it rains.

Multiple Choice

Rain, sleet and snow are all forms of _____________

• evaporation

• condensation

• precipitation

• accumulation

Multiple Choice

What process occurs when tiny water droplets cling together in the atmosphere?

• evaporation

• condensation

• precipitation

• accumulation

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of precipitation

• Clouds forming

• Rain, Snow or Sleet

• Rivers forming

• Water heated by the sun

Multiple Choice

What causes water to evaporate?

• The heat from the earth

• Cold air high above the earth

• Plants

• The sun

Multiple Choice

____________ occurs when liquid water changes into a gas or water vapor.

• evaporation

• condensation

• precipitation

• accumulation

Multiple Choice

____________ occurs when water vapor changes into liquid water.

• evaporation

• condensation

• precipitation

• accumulation

Multiple Choice

____________ occurs when water, snow or ice falls back to the earth..

• evaporation

• condensation

• precipitation

• accumulation