Water Cycle

Samantha put some ice in a cup and poured some cold tea over the ice. She set the filled cup on the kitchen table. In a few minutes, she noticed that there were drop 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.

Why are oceans such an important part of the water cycle?

• Oceans contain most of the water on Earth.

• Oceans help to replenish the water in rivers and streams via evaporation and precipitation.

• The water from oceans evaporates back into the air.

• All of the above.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

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

• Condensation

• Evaporation

• Precipitation

• Vapor formation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

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

A group of students used two plastic bags to model the water cycle. The students placed 100 milliliters of water into each bag and sealed the bags tightly. Then the students placed one bag in a dark closet and the other bag on a windowsill, in a sunny room. After a few hours the students checked the plastic bags. What did the students most likely see when they checked the plastic bags?

• The bag in the windowsill was empty, but the bag in the closet was full.

• The bag in the closet had more condensation than the bag in the windowsill.

• The bag in the closet and the bag in the windowsill both showed equal amounts of evaporation.

• The bag on the windowsill had more condensation than the bag in the closet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

One morning, Ryan noticed there were tiny drops of water on the grass as he walked to school. That afternoon, he did not see any drops of water on the grass when he returned home. Which of the following best explains what happened to the drops of water?

• The heat from the air caused the water drops to boil.

• The air cooled the water and caused the drops to freeze.

• The Sun heated the water and caused the drops to evaporate.

• The energy from the Sun caused the water drops to condense.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Students created models of the water cycle using empty plastic bottles. Water was placed in the bottom of each bottle and the top was sealed with a plastic cap. The bottles were then placed in a sunny window in the classroom. What would best represent the precipitation step of the water cycle in this model?

• water drops in the bottle collecting at the top

• water drops in the bottle moving down the sides

• the amount of water decreasing at the bottom of the bottle

• sunlight from the window warming the water at the bottom of the bottle

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which sequence below shows how water leaves the ocean and returns to land as it moves through the water cycle?

• condensation, precipitation, evaporation

• evaporation, condensation, precipitation

• evaporation, precipitation, condensation

• precipitation, condensation, and precipitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which step in the water cycle returns water directly to the oceans?

• condensation

• evaporation

• transpiration

• precipitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which stage in the water cycle is represented by the arrow showing water vapor rising from the sea?

• collection

• condensation

• evaporation

• precipitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4