Evaporation
Can you name a place where evaporation might occur in nature?
Rivers, oceans, lakes and ponds.
What forms in the sky when water vapor cools down?
Clouds form in the sky.
What are some different types of precipitation?
Rain, snow, sleet and hail.
Can you name some places where water collects in nature?
Lakes, rivers, oceans and ponds.
What happens to water when it is heated by the sun?
It evaporates
Why do puddles disappear after a sunny day?
The sun's heat warms the water in the puddle, causing water molecules to move faster and escape into the atmosphere as water vapor.
What type of matter is involved in this stage?
Vapor
What type of matter is involved in this stage?
Liquid
What is the difference between condensation and evaporation?
Evaporation is the process of a liquid turning into a gas, while condensation is the process of a gas turning back into a liquid.
What do we call the water that falls from clouds as rain, snow, or hail?
Precipitation
Where does the water go when it evaporates?
When water evaporates, it transforms into water vapor, a gas, and enters the atmosphere.
How do clouds form from water vapor?
The water cools and turns in to rain droplets.
How does snow form from clouds?
Snow forms in clouds when water vapor freezes directly into ice.
How does collected water return to the atmosphere?
Collected water returns to the atmosphere primarily through evaporation and transpiration.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
What happens to the water molecules during evaporation?
They move faster as they are heated and transform into water vapor.
Can you think of a place where condensation occurs?
Condensation can happen in many places where moisture in the air encounters a cooler surface, like the outside of a cold drink or on car windows during a cool night. Other common examples include dew, fog, clouds, and the breath you can see on a cold day.
How can precipitation lead to natural disasters like floods?
Precipitation, in the form of heavy rain, can lead to floods when the ground and drainage systems cannot absorb or contain the excess water.
Why is it important to have places where water collects?
These water sources support ecosystems, provide drinking water, and enable agriculture and industry.
What is the other name for the water cycle?
The hydrological cycle
Why does evaporation occur faster on a hot, sunny day compared to a cloudy day?
More sunlight that was provided on the sunny day means that water evaporating heats up quicker meaning it turns to vapor faster.
Why do we see condensation on the outside of a cold drink on a hot day?
Warm air comes into contact with a colder surface, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into liquid water.
How does precipitation affect the environment and ecosystems?
It can affect the ability for plants to grow. It can affect the ability of water available to animals that need it to survive.
Why is it important to protect areas where water collects, like rivers and lakes?
River and lakes provide essential resources and help regulate the climate. They are important for human communities, as they provide drinking water and food sources.
What would happen if there was no water cycle?
Life on Earth as we know it would be unsustainable. The absence of the water cycle would lead to a complete lack of precipitation, causing widespread droughts, the drying up of water bodies, and ultimately, the extinction of most plant and animal life.