Water Cycle Vocabulary

How water flows and changes within the Earth system

• Water Cycle

• Carbon Cycle

• Rock Cycle

• Atmospheric Cycle

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Water changing from liquid to vapor (gas), usually due to the Sun's heat.

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Transpiration

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Water changing from vapor (gas) to liquid, which can create clouds, fog, and dew.

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Transpiration

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Water falling from the sky, due to gravity. Can be liquid or ice.

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Transpiration

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Plants exhaling water into atmosphere.

• Evaporation

• Transpiration

• Condensation

• Precipitation

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Animals releasing water into the Earth system through sweat.

• Excretion

• Perspiration

• Condensation

• Evaporation

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Water flowing downhill, through gravity, over the Earth's surface, collecting into streams and rivers.

• Runoff

• Precipitation

• Groundwater

• Evaporation

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What force causes water to fall from the sky to Earth's surface, and to flow downhill from the mountains down to sea level?

• Solar energy

• Gravity

• Magnetism

• Water tension

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

What source of energy drives the entire Water Cycle?

• Geothermal energy (from Earth's core)

• Solar energy

• Hydroelectric energy

• Fossil fuels

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

As water flows through the Water Cycle, it can be stored in various natural reservoirs including:

• Atmosphere

• Clouds

• Soil

• Aquifers

• Glaciers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4