Water Cycle Study Guide

Evaporation

- What is evaporation?
Evaporation is the process by which water is converted from its liquid state to a gaseous state (water vapor) due to heat.- Where does evaporation occur?
Evaporation occurs from bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, as well as from the surface of the Earth.

Condensation

- What is condensation?
Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air cools and turns back into liquid water, forming clouds.- How are clouds formed?
Clouds are formed through the process of condensation as water vapor in the air cools and forms tiny water droplets.

Precipitation

- What is precipitation?
Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.- What causes precipitation to occur?
Precipitation occurs when water droplets in the clouds become too heavy and fall to the Earth's surface due to gravity.

Collection

- Where does the collected water go?
The water from precipitation collects in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some of it also seeps into the ground to become groundwater.- How does the water cycle start over again?

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