In this presentation you will: The Water Cycle explore the stages of the water cycle Next >

Water covers the majority of the surface of the Earth. It is vital for life on Earth for two main reasons. Firstly, it makes up around 70% of all living things. Secondly, it provides an environment for those organisms that live in water. The movement of water around the Earth is known as the water cycle. The Water Cycle Next >

Our Water is Millions of Years Old At one time or another, all the water molecules on the planet have been in an ocean, a river, a plant, an animal, a cloud, a raindrop, or a glacier. Another interesting fact is that the water we drink today is the same water that the dinosaurs drank millions of years ago! Next >

Water Can Gain Energy Wherever water is on the surface of the Earth, it can be heated by radiation from the Sun. The Sun provides it with energy. The water can be affected by weather conditions too. For example, water in the oceans will form large waves when a storm is near. This also gives large amounts of energy to the water. Condensation Evaporation Rain Next >

Which process transfers heat from the Sun to the oceans? Question 1 A) Convection B) Radiation C) Conduction D) Correlation Next >

Which process transfers heat from the Sun to the oceans? Question 1 A) Convection B) Radiation C) Conduction D) Correlation Next >

Evaporation Evaporation is the changing of a liquid to a gas. During the evaporation process, impurities in the water are left behind. As a result, the water vapor that enters the atmosphere is cleaner. Water can evaporate into the atmosphere from oceans, seas, lakes, pools, snow, and living organisms. The energy that the water gains helps it to evaporate. Next >

Factors that Affect Evaporation The amount of natural evaporation that takes place is affected by the wind. The warmer and drier the wind, the higher the rate of evaporation. The main factor affecting evaporation is temperature. Water evaporates more quickly at higher temperatures. Next >

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the rate of evaporation? Question 2 A) Temperature B) Sea depth C) Humidity D) Wind Next >

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the rate of evaporation? Question 2 A) Temperature B) Sea depth C) Humidity D) Wind Next >

Convection When water evaporates, it becomes water vapor. When a gas is heated it expands, its volume gets larger. The Sun continues to supply energy so the water vapor gets warmer. This makes it less dense than the air above it, so it rises. This upward flow is called a convection current. Next >

Why does warm water vapor rise? Question 3 A) It is less dense than the air above it. B) It is denser than the air above it. C) It is denser than the air below it. D) It is attracted by clouds. Next >

Why does warm water vapor rise? Question 3 A) It is less dense than the air above it. B) It is denser than the air above it. C) It is denser than the air below it. D) It is attracted by clouds. Next >

Condensation Condensation is the process of water vapor changing from a vapor to a liquid. As the vapor rises it will also cool down. When it has cooled, it may condense. Water vapor condenses onto small airborne particles to form dew, fog, or clouds. Next >

Which of the following correctly describes the term 'condensation'? Question 4 A) It is the changing of a liquid into a solid. B) It is the changing of a gas into a liquid. C) It is the changing of a solid into a gas. D) It is the changing of a liquid into a gas. Next >

Which of the following correctly describes the term 'condensation'? Question 4 A) It is the changing of a liquid into a solid. B) It is the changing of a gas into a liquid. C) It is the changing of a solid into a gas. D) It is the changing of a liquid into a gas. Next >

Rain, Snow, or Hail If the water drops become large enough, the water will fall from clouds in the form of rain, snow, or hail. Clouds contain water vapor and cloud droplets, small drops of condensed water. These droplets are too small to fall out of the cloud, but they are large enough to make the cloud visible. This delivers the atmospheric water back to the Earth. This process is called precipitation. Next >

Rainfall Most of the rain or snow that falls lands directly back into water. There are one or two things the water might do: Some of the rain falls onto land. it could run off the surface it might soak into the soil or rock it could evaporate again Next >

Soaking into the Ground Water on the surface soaks into the ground to become groundwater. The rate at which this happens depends on the permeability of the soil or rock. Groundwater tends to move slowly. In some cases, it can take thousands of years to return as surface water. Due to the force of gravity, the water returns to the land surface at a lower point than where it entered. Next >

Percolation Percolation is the downward movement of water through soil and rock. This occurs below the root zone (the depth of soil penetrated by plant roots). Groundwater percolates through the soil in the same way as water fills a sponge. It moves from space to space along fractures in rock, or through sand or gravel. Next >

What name is given to the process of water passing through rocks below the Earth's surface? Question 5 A) Evaporation B) Convection C) Condensation D) Percolation Next >

What name is given to the process of water passing through rocks below the Earth's surface? Question 5 A) Evaporation B) Convection C) Condensation D) Percolation Next >

Run-Off Water that does not soak into the ground or evaporate immediately will run off the land. It will form streams, which in turn form rivers that run into lakes or eventually the oceans. In this way the cycle will then be ready to repeat itself. Next >

Summary In this presentation you have seen: End the stages of the water cycle