The Water Cycle

Understand evaporation, condensation and precipitation

The Water Cycle

Water moves in a continuous cycle between the earth and the sky. The sun heats water in rivers, dams and oceans. The water evaporates (turns into water vapour). It rises, cools and condenses into clouds. When clouds get heavy, rain falls back to earth.

Example

See the Water Cycle

Put a cup of water in the sun. After a few hours, some water is gone — it evaporated! Breathe on a cold mirror — you see tiny water drops. That is condensation (water vapour turning back to liquid).

Note

Remember

Evaporation: liquid → gas (water vapour) Condensation: gas → liquid (clouds, dew) Precipitation: water falling from clouds (rain, hail, snow)

Key Vocabulary

EvaporationWhen liquid water changes to water vapour (gas)

CondensationWhen water vapour cools and becomes liquid drops

PrecipitationWater falling from clouds as rain, hail or snow

Water cycleThe continuous movement of water between earth and atmosphere

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Evaporation

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