Water Cycle Review
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What you will learn
- 1Name and describe the stages of the water cycle
- 2Explain how water moves between the atmosphere, land, and ocean
- 3Identify the processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection
Mini Lesson
The water cycle describes how water continuously moves through the environment. Water changes state and travels between the atmosphere, land, and ocean in a repeating loop.
The Main Stages
- Evaporation — heat from the sun turns liquid water into water vapor, which rises into the atmosphere.
- Condensation — water vapor cools as it rises and forms tiny water droplets that make up clouds.
- Precipitation — water falls from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Collection — water collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater, then the cycle begins again.
Transpiration
- Transpiration — water released by plant leaves into the atmosphere also adds water vapor to the cycle.
- Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release it through tiny pores in their leaves.
Words to know
water cycle
The continuous movement of water through the environment — evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
evaporation
The process by which heat turns liquid water into water vapor, which rises into the atmosphere.
condensation
The process by which water vapor cools and forms tiny water droplets that make up clouds.
precipitation
Water that falls from clouds to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
collection
The gathering of water in oceans, lakes, rivers, and underground after precipitation.
transpiration
The release of water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere.
Tip: remember the order — Evaporation (up) → Condensation (clouds form) → Precipitation (falls) → Collection (gathers) → repeat. The sun drives the whole cycle by providing the energy for evaporation.
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