The Water Cycle
Water falling from clouds as rain, snow, or hail is called this.
What is precipitation?
This gas is taken in by plants during photosynthesis.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
Most of Earth’s atmosphere is made of this gas, which plants can't use directly.
What is nitrogen (N₂)?
This everyday gas released by cars and factories contributes to climate change.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
CO2 released into atmosphere as waste from metabolism.
What is cellular respiration?
This happens when water vapor cools and forms clouds.
What is condensation?
Animals and plants release carbon dioxide during this process.
What is respiration?
These organisms play a key role in almost every step of the nitrogen cycle.
What are bacteria?
This human activity/process/livelihood speeds up the nitrogen cycle and can lead to pollution due to fertilizer use.
What is agriculture/farming?
This cycle is dependent on the help of other organisms (ex: bacteria and decomposers), whereas the other two cycles we studied are not.
What is the nitrogen cycle?
This process turns liquid water into vapor.
What is evaporation?
This human activity adds extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
What is burning fossil fuels?
Animals get nitrogen by doing this.
What is eating plants or other animals?
Humans speed up the carbon cycle by doing this to coal, oil, and natural gas.
What is burning fossil fuels?
Liquid water that isn’t infiltrated runs along the surface and collects in bodies of water.
What is runoff?
This term describes water moving through soil to become groundwater.
What is infiltration?
This process removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in plants.
What is photosynthesis?
This step in the cycle releases nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
What is denitrification?
Using too much fertilizer can cause this harmful process in water bodies leading to excessive algae growth.
What is eutrophication?
Nitrogen is found in what macromolecules?
What are proteins and nucleic acids?
Plants release water into the air through this process.
What is transpiration?
Dead plants and animals can become this carbon-rich energy source over millions of years.
What are fossil fuels?
This process by bacteria turns nitrogen gas into a usable form for plants.
What is nitrogen fixation?
Building cities and roads prevents this important water cycle process from occurring naturally. (Hint: there're less permeable surfaces)
What is infiltration (or groundwater recharge)?
Carbon is found in what macromolecules?
What are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids?