The The Water Water CycleCycle

How OLD is the water you How OLD is the water you drink?drink?The water in your glass may have fallen from the sky as

rain just last week, but the water itself has been around pretty much as long as the earth has!   When the first fish crawled out of the ocean onto the land, your glass of water was part of that ocean.  When the Brontosaurus walked through lakes feeding on  plants, your glass of water was part of those lakes.  When kings and princesses, knights and squires took a drink from their wells, your glass of water was part of those wells.

And you thought your parents were OLD!

water cyclewater cycle

Definition

the constant recycling of water

Think about it…

Throughout the water cycle, does water change states of matter?

Water Cycle

EVAPORATION

CONDENSATION

PRECIPITATION

evaporationevaporation

Definition

the process in which a liquid changes to a gas

Think about it…

What might cause water to evaporate more quickly?

condensationcondensation

Definition

the process by which water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid

Think about it…

Have you ever seen condensation on the outside of your glass when you are drinking a

cold beverage? Why does this happen?

precipitationprecipitation

Definition

water that falls to Earth

Think about it…

What causes precipitation?

Where does precipitation go once it falls from the sky?

What are different forms of precipitation?

What is the water cycle?

the continuous cycling of water through Earth’s land, atmosphere, and water bodies

Click on the numbers on the water cycle diagram to see what is happening.

1

2

3

4

3

5MORE QUESTIONS

Explain how water changes from a liquid to a gas and back to a liquid in the water cycle.

As air temperature increases, water evaporates from Earth’s surface. The gas molecules rise, cool, and condense to form liquid water.

More Water Cycle More Water Cycle ResourcesResources• Kid Zone Water Cycle

• Enchanted Learning Water Cycle• Water Cycle in Motion• Animated Diagram• Water Cycle Quiz• Droplet and the Water Cycle• Magic School Bus—Wet All Over

Magic School Bus—Wet All Over 26:17

The sun’s heat causes the water to evaporate more quickly. The sun is a very

important part of the water cycle!

Back to Diagram

The water vapor condensed to make a cloud.

Precipitation will come from the cloud.

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The water is evaporating. When it evaporates, it

changes from a liquid to a gas. The water vapor will rise until it condenses to form a

cloud.

Back to Diagram

Precipitation is falling from the clouds.

Precipitation can be in the form of rain, snow,

sleet, or hail. Back to Diagram

Some of the water that has fallen from the sky (run-

off) collects in river, streams, lakes, and

oceans.

Back to Diagram