The Water

Cycle

The water cycle is the journey water takes as it circulates from

the land to the sky and back again.
The suns heat provides energy to evaporate water from the
Earths surface and from oceans and lakes.
The water vapor eventually condenses, forming tiny droplets in
clouds.
When the clouds meet cool air over land, precipitation (rain,
sleet, or snow) is triggered, and water returns to the land or sea.
The water flows downhill as runoff (above ground or
underground), eventually returning to the seas as slightly salty
water.
And then, the cycle starts over.
Draw a picture of the WATER CYCLE including: EVAPORATION,
CONDENSATION, PRECIPITATION, and RUNOFF!

Without the sun, there

would be NO water cycle!
Evaporation occurs when a
liquid is changed into a
_______________.

The rate of evaporation

_______________ when the
temperature of a liquid is
increased.

Rising air _______________

Water moves around the
from CONVECTION lift vapor
___________ in the water cycle.
high up in the atmosphere.
Water (liquid) turns into
___________ (gas) when heat
energy raises its temperature to
100C or 212F.

As water vapor rises, it

______________. Then, it turns
back into liquid.

Winds and air masses move

moisture around forming
_____________.

Condensation requires cool

_______________________.

Water vapor rises and mixes

with tiny _________________
of dust, soot, and salt.

Precipitation is any form of

____________________ in the
atmosphere.

_________________ form in
below freezing temperatures.

________________ forms in above

freezing temperatures.

__________________ forms when

frozen raindrops fall from above
freezing conditions through below
freezing temperatures.
____________________________
forms as water freezes as it
touches the ground surface below
32F.

___________________ forms as
raindrops freeze and grow in size
when they fall into updrafts that
circle them around in powerful
thunderstorms.
____________________________
is the discharge of water vapor
from the leaves of plants into the
atmosphere.

There is higher ______________ in

places with lots of vegetation
cover.

Water is __________________ by
roots and released through small
pores on the underside of the
leaves.

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION combines
evaporation of moisture from
________________ together with
evaporation from leaves.

Precipitation that does NOT get

absorbed or infiltrated into the soil
is called ____________________.

Loss of heat energy is

________________.
Runoff carries chemicals and substances
into water collection areas
and causes _________________________.

The amount of runoff depends on:

1. The _________________ of the land.
2. The type of ___________________.
3. The amount of ______________________________.

VOCABULARY
EVAPORATION

WATER VAPOR

CONDENSATION

ATMOSPHERE

TRANSPIRATION

RUNOFF

PRECIPITATION

STUDY GUIDE NOTES:

Water from puddles evaporates.

Snow, rain, hail, and fog are all forms of water.
Water vapor condenses when it cools.
Evaporation is caused by energy from the Sun.
Evaporation warms water vapor. As it rises, it cools
and loses heat energy. Then, clouds are formed.
Earth is constantly taking in heat from the Sun.
Runoff fills streams and lakes.
The sun warms ocean water, which causes evaporation.
As the water vapor rises, it cools in the atmosphere.
Then, clouds are forms.
The suns energy causes water to evaporate into the
atmosphere, which forms into clouds, then falls back to
the earth as rain, sleet, or snow.
Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are the
three main elements of the water cycle.
Precipitation and runoff in great amounts would cause
floods.
An increase in sunlight, followed by an increase in
evaporation, plus an increase in condensation would
most likely result in an increase in precipitation.
If left in the sunshine, water in an open jar will
evaporate.
The droplets on the outside of a glass of iced-tea are
examples of condensation.
The temperature factor MOST affects the rate of
evaporation.

Baggie Water Cycle Experiment

Cut a piece of white paper to fit inside a gallon size

baggie. DO NOT use a zipper type It wont tape
easily to the window!
Draw the water cycle using all the vocabulary words.
Be creative and artistic.
Place the paper inside the baggie. Fit without creases
or folds.
Trace your drawing with SHARPIE markers on the front
of the bag. Add color and details. Be careful to space
letters to make them easy to read. Check your spelling!
Remove the paper from the baggie.
Add 3 TBSP of water colored with blue food coloring.
Tape the baggies to the window.
Watch the suns heat create water vapor. The drops
will fall again as the bag cools.