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Water Cycle (6-8 Version)
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- Water on Earth is millions of years old and is constantly being recycling.
- Water cycles through the processes of evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
- The water cycle is driven by gravity and energy from the sun.
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Discussion Questions
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Before VideoWhat are some ways water moves on Earth’s surface?ANSWER
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Water flows down rivers and streams and is collected in lakes, oceans, and other water reservoirs. Water can also flow and be stored underground.
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Water can evaporate into the air as water vapor and then condense and fall as rain, hail or snow. Clouds and fog also store and move water in the atmosphere.
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The ocean stores the largest amount of the water on Earth’s surface. Large amounts of water from the ocean also evaporate into the atmosphere.
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Gravity pulls rain and snow down to Earth from the atmosphere through a process called precipitation. Gravity also pulls water from elevated areas such as mountains and hills down into lakes, oceans, and water reservoirs.
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The Sun’s energy heats water, causing the water to evaporate into a gas called water vapor.
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Water can evaporate at many different points in the water cycle. It can also be taken in by plants and animals and moved or deposited in various locations. Water might be pulled down from mountains to flow into rivers by gravity or moved underground. Wind will move rain and clouds in the atmosphere, creating many different locations for water to fall as precipitation. All of the processes that move water in the water cycle can occur in various locations on Earth and on different time scales.
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After VideoHow does heat from the Sun turn liquid water into a gas called water vapor?ANSWER
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The energy from the Sun increases the energy of the water molecules when they are heated. This causes the water molecules to vibrate or move faster until some of them escape to become water vapor.
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The Sun’s energy evaporates water into the atmosphere from all types of sources, including bodies of water, plants, and animals. This water eventually falls back to Earth and moves along Earth’s surface until it is evaporated again by the Sun. The energy from the Sun is a driving force that gets the water cycling in and out of the atmosphere.
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Water travels from the soil, through the plant, and then evaporates from the leaves into the atmosphere.
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When water vapor in the air loses heat or thermal energy to the atmosphere, the gas loses energy and changes its state to a liquid through a process called condensation. These tiny liquid water droplets are what form clouds.
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Snowflakes form in cold temperatures when water vapor or water droplets begin to crystalize into solid water or ice. They can continue to grow bigger when more ice crystals are added until they eventually fall to Earth.
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Water molecules today have been continuously cycling on Earth for millions of years. The same processes of evaporation, precipitation, and condensation that are happening today have been happening for millions of years
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Vocabulary
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Evaporation
DEFINE
The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.
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Precipitation
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The process of water being released from clouds in the form of rain, hail or snow.
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Condensation
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The process of water vapor turning into liquid water.
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Gravity
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The force of attraction between two objects because of their masses.
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Sun Energy
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Energy produced or radiated by the Sun.
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Groundwater
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Water beneath the surface of the ground.
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Water Vapor
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The gaseous phase of water.
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Water Droplets
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The liquid phase of water.
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Crystallization
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The process by which solids form.
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Evaporation
DEFINE
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Reading Material
Download as PDF Download PDF View as Separate PageWHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states. Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground. Solid water is found as snow or ice. The gaseous form of water is found as water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere.
To better understand the water cycle…
WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?. The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states. Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground. Solid water is found as snow or ice. The gaseous form of water is found as water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere. To better understand the water cycle…LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
The Cycling of Water
Earth’s water is continuously being moved on, above, and below the surface of Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, gas (vapor), and solid (ice). Water moves and cycles between the ocean, atmosphere, and land. Water evaporates from the surface of Earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses, and falls again to the surface as precipitation.
The water falling on land moves along the surface in rivers and streams and collects in bodies of water such as lakes and oceans. Most water that falls on the land soaks into the ground, where it can spend long periods of time trapped in the spaces between rocks and soil. Groundwater is the source of water for plants to grow, and humans have relied on groundwater as a drinking source for thousands of years.
The Cycling of Water Earth’s water is continuously being moved on, above, and below the surface of Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, gas (vapor), and solid (ice). Water moves and cycles between the ocean, atmosphere, and land. Water evaporates from the surface of Earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses, and falls again to the surface as precipitation. The water falling on land moves along the surface in rivers and streams and collects in bodies of water such as lakes and oceans. Most water that falls on the land soaks into the ground, where it can spend long periods of time trapped in the spaces between rocks and soil. Groundwater is the source of water for plants to grow, and humans have relied on groundwater as a drinking source for thousands of years.Phase Changes
All matter is made of tiny moving particles called molecules. All matter can move from one state to another. The three normal states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. However, some matter may require extreme temperatures and pressures in order to change states. Water, like all states of matter, requires the addition or removal of energy to change states. When heat energy is added to water, ice melts into a liquid and liquids evaporate into a gas. When heat is removed, gas condenses to a liquid and liquids crystallize into a solid.
Phase changes between the states of matter happen when you reach certain points of temperature and pressure. Water has a freezing and melting point of 0°C or 32°F. The freezing point is when liquid water turns to solid ice, and the melting point is when solid ice turns to liquid water. These are the same two transitions of states of matter between a solid and a liquid. Water has a boiling and condensation point of 100°C or 212°F. The boiling point is when liquid water turns into a gas, and the condensation point is when gas turns into a liquid. These are the two transitions of states of matter between liquid water and the gas form of water (called water vapor).
Phase Changes All matter is made of tiny moving particles called molecules. All matter can move from one state to another. The three normal states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. However, some matter may require extreme temperatures and pressures in order to change states. Water, like all states of matter, requires the addition or removal of energy to change states. When heat energy is added to water, ice melts into a liquid and liquids evaporate into a gas. When heat is removed, gas condenses to a liquid and liquids crystallize into a solid. Phase changes between the states of matter happen when you reach certain points of temperature and pressure. Water has a freezing and melting point of 0°C or 32°F. The freezing point is when liquid water turns to solid ice, and the melting point is when solid ice turns to liquid water. These are the same two transitions of states of matter between a solid and a liquid. Water has a boiling and condensation point of 100°C or 212°F. The boiling point is when liquid water turns into a gas, and the condensation point is when gas turns into a liquid. These are the two transitions of states of matter between liquid water and the gas form of water (called water vapor).Sun Energy
The solar radiation that comes from the Sun contains energy that drives the water to move through the water cycle. The Sun’s heat causes glaciers and snow to melt into liquid water. It also causes water to evaporate from oceans, lakes, and streams. The process of water evaporating from the leaves of plants is called transpiration. The Sun’s heat also warms water vapor, causing it to rise up through Earth’s atmosphere, where it condenses back into liquid water and creates clouds. All of these processes are driven by energy from the Sun and continually move water through the water cycle.
Sun Energy The solar radiation that comes from the Sun contains energy that drives the water to move through the water cycle. The Sun’s heat causes glaciers and snow to melt into liquid water. It also causes water to evaporate from oceans, lakes, and streams. The process of water evaporating from the leaves of plants is called transpiration. The Sun’s heat also warms water vapor, causing it to rise up through Earth’s atmosphere, where it condenses back into liquid water and creates clouds. All of these processes are driven by energy from the Sun and continually move water through the water cycle.Gravity and Water Collection
Gravity is an attractive force that also helps move water through the water cycle. Water is pulled down from higher elevations by gravity into rivers, streams, and underground. Gravity also pulls water down from the atmosphere when it rains, snows, or hails. Most of the water that falls to the ground will soak into the ground and collect as underground water. When water reaches the ends of rivers or streams, it will begin to collect in bodies of water such as lakes or oceans.
Gravity and Water Collection Gravity is an attractive force that also helps move water through the water cycle. Water is pulled down from higher elevations by gravity into rivers, streams, and underground. Gravity also pulls water down from the atmosphere when it rains, snows, or hails. Most of the water that falls to the ground will soak into the ground and collect as underground water. When water reaches the ends of rivers or streams, it will begin to collect in bodies of water such as lakes or oceans.Groundwater Flow
Water is continually moving underground downward and sideways because of gravity and pressure. Groundwater is a major contributor to flow in many streams and rivers and has a strong influence on river and wetland habitats for plants and animals. People have relied on groundwater for thousands of years as a source of drinking water and irrigation for agriculture.
The vast majority of groundwater occupies space between soil and rock particles. The ground acts like a sponge as it soaks up water into these spaces. At a certain depth below the land surface, larger spaces of collected groundwater can be found called aquifers. Water can also hit areas underground that are denser or have less space for water storage such as nonporous rock. This causes the water to flow in a more horizontal fashion, generally toward streams, oceans, or deeper underground.
Groundwater Flow Water is continually moving underground downward and sideways because of gravity and pressure. Groundwater is a major contributor to flow in many streams and rivers and has a strong influence on river and wetland habitats for plants and animals. People have relied on groundwater for thousands of years as a source of drinking water and irrigation for agriculture. The vast majority of groundwater occupies space between soil and rock particles. The ground acts like a sponge as it soaks up water into these spaces. At a certain depth below the land surface, larger spaces of collected groundwater can be found called aquifers. Water can also hit areas underground that are denser or have less space for water storage such as nonporous rock. This causes the water to flow in a more horizontal fashion, generally toward streams, oceans, or deeper underground. -
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What is the role of the sun and gravity in the water cycle?
Describe the 3 key steps of the water cycle (evaporation, precipitation, condensation) and how they work in a cycle.
Does groundwater flow? Is water still part of the cycle when it is underground?
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