Kate Hall – Wasatch Elementary The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle

70% Water! 70% of the Earth is covered by water. 97% of the Earth’s Water is in the ocean 70%

The Sun When you woke up this morning did you notice the sun? The sun provides an important heat source for the Earth. The sun not only heats up the people on Earth it heats up the water on Earth as well. When the sun heats up the water it gets warm enough that it turns into water vapor (which is a gas). This phase of the water cycle is called EVAPORATION.

Evaporation As part of the water cycle the sun heats up the water here on Earth. As the temperature of that water rises, the water turns into a gas and rises from the Earth into the atmosphere. The higher you get into the atmosphere the colder the temperature gets. When water turns from a liquid to a gas the process is called EVAPORATION.

The Shower Have you ever been in the shower and noticed that there was steam on the mirror? The water from the shower that you were taking is warmed up enough that it turns into a gas. That gas moves through the bathroom and hits the bathroom mirror which is colder than the gas. The colder mirror cools it quickly and it turns to a liquid. When the water changes from a gas to a liquid like this it is called CONDENSATION.

Condensation When the sun heats up water it turns to a gas and rises. As the gas rises air around it gets colder and colder. Eventually that gas will meet a dust particle (a piece of dust) The gas particle will cling to the dust and turn back to a liquid in the form of a cloud. When the water turns from a gas to a liquid it is called CONDENSATION.

A Picture  The gas rises, gets colder and meets a dust particle The dust particle causes the gas to change phases again back to a liquid..a cloud! The sun heats the water which turns to a gas.

Here comes the rain! When the cloud gets too heavy to hold all the water it has, the water will fall from the cloud and back to earth in the form of Precipitation. This process is known as the Water Cycle.

, and The same process happens here on Earth. The sun provides heat to the water here on Earth. The water turns from its liquid form to a gas and rises this is called Evaporation. As it rises from the Earth into the atmosphere the temperature gets colder. When the gas gets high enough and meets up with a dust particle it condenses. When it condenses it joins other dust/water particles to form a cloud. When the cloud gets too heavy it releases that water, which falls to earth in the form of precipitation.

Question #1 When water turns into water vapor which phase of the water cycle is this? A. Condensation B. Evaporation C. Precipitation D. Construction

The sun can still evaporate water even on a cloudy day. Question #2 The sun can still evaporate water even on a cloudy day. True or False

Question #3 When a gas turns to a liquid this process is called: A. Evaporation B. Transpiration C. Condensation D. Precipitation

Question #4 When you are in the shower and the steam collects on the mirror why does this happen? A. It was the first thing the steam came in contact with B. There is dust on the mirror and steam is attracted to dust C. You forgot to turn the fan in the bathroom on D. The mirror is colder than the steam and it cools it quickly

Question #5 What percentage of the Earth’s water is located in the ocean? A. 97% B. .8% C. 2.2% D. 100%

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