Water Properties, Water Cycle and Distribution

Water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back to Earth's surface again in a process known as the water cycle.Which of the following is the major form of energy driving the water cycle?

• solar energy

• nuclear energy

• geothermal energy

• chemical energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The diagram shows the distribution of water on the Earth. Which source is the most abundant supply of liquid surface water that is not salty?

• groundwater

• oceans

• lakes

• rivers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The Sun heats the Earth's water. This warm water turns into a vapor, and rises into the atmosphere, where it cools off. What happens to this water vapor?

• The water vapor evaporates and escapes into space. New water is formed by precipitation.

• The water vapor only rises for a very short time, then settles back into the ocean unnoticed.

• The water vapor pushes clouds out of the way as it rises. This causes overcast conditions to clear.

• The water vapor condenses as it cools, then it forms clouds. It later returns to the Earth as precipitation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The graphic shows that 97% of Earth's water is contained in a single reservoir. The remaining 3% is made up of many other reservoirs. What reservoir contains 97% of Earth's water?

• a freshwater lake

• a glacier

• groundwater

• the ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The graphic shows that only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh water. The graphic also shows that of this 3%, almost all of it is contained in two reservoirs. What are the two reservoirs that contain almost all of Earth's fresh water?

• glaciers and groundwater

• streams and estuaries

• marshes and swamps

• lakes and rivers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which step in the water cycle involves returning of fresh water to the Earth?

• precipitation

• evaporation

• respiration

• condensation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Humans, like all other organisms, need fresh water to survive. Of all the water found on Earth, how much of it is fresh water?

• about 3%

• less than 1%

• about 30%

• more than 70%

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

In general, surface water always flows

• from south to north

• toward the equator

• from north to south

• downhill

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How are evaporation and transpiration similar?

• Both processes occur immediately before precipitation in the water cycle.

• They are both processes in which liquid water is changed into water vapor.

• They both occur in the biosphere.

• They both process water in its solid state.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Evaporation and transpiration are two processes included in the water cycle. The energy source that drives these processes is

• the burning of fossil fuels.

• the Sun.

• convection within Earth's mantle.

• nuclear fission.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4