Earth Systems

If Walter puts a bucket of water out in the Sun on a hot, windy day, what will happen to the water level in the bucket? 

• The water level will go down as the water evaporates from the bucket. 

• The water level will rise as water condenses from the air above the bucket. 

• The water level will stay the same since the water is protected from the wind. 

• The water level will only go down if the wind makes water splash out of the bucket.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Bernie put some ice in a cup and poured some cold tea over the ice. He set the filled cup on the kitchen table. In a few minutes, he noticed that there were drops of water all over the outside of the cup. Where did the drops of water most likely come from? 

• They evaporated out of the air above the cold liquid. 

• They condensed out of the air surrounding the cold cup. 

• They dripped off the ice cubes as he put them into the cup

• They came off his hands after holding the melting ice cubes. 

Which of the following must happen to water in order for it to evaporate off the surface of lakes and oceans during the water cycle? 

• The water must be in motion to start the process of evaporation. 

• The Sun must warm the water enough so that some water molecules turn to gas.

• The movement of the wind must be strong enough to pull small water drops into the air. 

• The water temperature must decrease enough to cause some water molecules to turn to gas.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Water runs down creeks and rivers until it flows into the ocean. At what stage in the water cycle does the water return to the creeks and rivers? 

• condensation 

• evaporation 

• precipitation 

• vapor formation 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which answer best explains why clouds usually form high in the sky?

• It is cold enough there for the water vapor to begin condensing.

• It is warm enough there for evaporated water to expand into clouds.

• It is dry enough there for precipitation to form from condensed water vapor.

• It is windy enough there for water droplets to get pushed together into clouds.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Padma took a bottle of water with her when she went to play soccer. She wanted to make sure none of it evaporated from the bottle while she was playing. What should she do to keep the water from evaporating?

• Screw the top on loosely and set it in the Sun.

• Put the top on tightly and leave it in the shade.

• Leave the top off the bottle and set it in the Sun.

• Screw the top on loosely and keep it in the shade.

 On a cold day in winter, Jasmine breathed on the cold car window. The window fogged up enough so that she could write her name on the glass with her finger. Why did the fog form on the window?

• Her warm breath caused precipitation when it hit the cold air.

• The moisture in her breath condensed when it hit the cold glass. 

• The warmth of her breath melted the clear layer of ice on the window. 

• Her breath contained moisture droplets that evaporated against the window. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

 During which part of the water cycle is water a gas? 

• after it condenses 

• when it evaporates 

• as it becomes precipitation

• once it changes temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Hurricanes generally produce a great deal of precipitation. Where do these storms collect the moisture needed to produce so much precipitation? 

• from water evaporating quickly off the warm ocean surface

• from the energy of ocean currents moving water into the air 

• from cold ocean water meeting warm land and producing clouds 

• from rain condensing as the hurricane passes over high mountains

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of the following best describes what clouds are made of? 

• fog that has risen from the ground 

• large amounts of water that has evaporated 

• water vapor that has condensed into droplets 

• rain or snow that has been pushed together by wind 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4