The Water CycleWhat is it and how does it work?

The Water Cycle

Condensation

Water Vapor

Water

Precipitation

Evaporation

Run off

Transpiration

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1. Water cycle

The recycling of water through the environment

The water cycle begins with water. Water is found in many places. A few of them are as follows: Lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds, puddles, reservoirs, and many other places.

One stage of the water cycle is evaporation. This is a process where the water is heated and turned into a water vapor. The sun is the main heat source for this process.

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2. Evaporation

This is a process where the water is heated and turned into a water vapor.

Another stage of the water cycle is transpiration. This is a process where the water evaporates from plant leaves and turns to water vapor. The sun is the main heat source for this process.

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3. Transpiration

This is a process where the water in tree leaves evaporate and turn into water vapor.

The next stage is condensation. This is where warm and cold air collide and form ice crystals that condense and form droplets of water. These water droplets eventually become to heavy and begin to fall in the form of precipitation.

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4. Condensation

When water cools down and condenses back into a liquidCreates clouds and/or fog

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5. Precipitation

When the water droplets become too heavy and they fall to EarthCan be rain, sleet, hail or snow

Precipitation can fall to Earth in the form of snow, hail, rain, sleet, or glaze.

The next stage is run-off. The water seeps through the soil and ends up in the water table. It then flows into the streams, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. The process is then repeated again and again.

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6. Run - off Water flowing into streams and rivers and eventually making its way to the oceans

Now you’re ready for the little quiz!

On the next page, label the water cycle correctly using the following words:evaporation, run-off (2 times), condensation (2 times) , precipitation and transpiration