Water the Great Moderator
What does it mean when water is called a “great moderator” of temperature?
It means water helps keep temperatures from changing too much — it warms up and cools down slowly.
What is the only substance on Earth that is naturally occurring as a solid, liquid, and gas?
Water.
What are the three states of water?
Solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor).
What is weathering?
The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces.
About how much of Earth’s surface is covered by water?
About 71%.
Why do places near the ocean stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter?
Because the ocean absorbs and releases heat slowly, which keeps nearby land temperatures more mild.
Why is water called the “universal solvent”?
Because it can dissolve many different substances.
What happens to the temperature when water changes from one state to another?
The temperature stays the same during the phase change.
What is erosion?
The movement of rock and soil from one place to another.
Where is most of Earth’s fresh water found?
In ice, glaciers, and polar caps.
Which city would have more even temperatures — one by the coast or one far inland?
The city by the coast.
What property of water lets insects like the water strider walk on top of it?
Surface tension.
What is it called when water turns from a liquid into a gas ANDat what temperature does it occur?
Evaporation and 100 Celsius
What is deposition?
When sediments are dropped or left in a new place.
Name two important ways humans use water.
Drinking, growing crops, making electricity, or cleaning (any two).
How does the Atlantic Ocean help make Virginia’s weather more mild?
It keeps the coast cooler in summer and warmer in winter by storing and releasing heat.
Why does ice float on water instead of sinking?
Ice is less dense than liquid water.
What is it called when water freezes inside a rock and causes it to break apart?
Ice wedging or freezing and thawing (physical weathering).
Which kind of weathering happens when roots grow into cracks in rocks?
Root Wedging (Physical (mechanical) weathering.)
How does water help shape Earth’s surface?
It causes weathering, erosion, and deposition that change landforms.
How does water’s ability to absorb and release heat make life near the coast more comfortable?
It prevents extreme hot and cold temperatures, making it easier for people, animals, and plants to live there.
Which one is not a property of water:
It’s a polar molecule
It has surface tension
It’s a universal solvent
It only exists as a liquid
It only exists as a liquid.
How does water’s ability to hold heat help keep Earth’s climate steady?
It keeps temperatures from changing too quickly, helping maintain a stable climate.
What kind of weathering happens when water freezes and thaws in rocks, making cracks bigger?
Ice wedging (a type of physical weathering).
Name one way water supports life, one way it helps humans, and one way it affects weather.
Supports life: all living things need water.
Helps humans: used for farming, drinking, or power.
Affects weather: makes rain, snow, and temperature changes.