Water Cycle
What is the process called when water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water?
Condensation
What causes different areas of the Earth to receive different amounts of sunlight?
the tilt of the Earth on its axis
What is convection?
the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids and gases)
What is humidity?
the amount of water vapor in the air
What is thermal energy?
the energy that comes from the temperature of matter
Name the four main stages of the water cycle.
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection
How does unequal heating of the Earth affect weather patterns?
it creates differences in air pressure, leading to wind and storms
Give an example of convection in the atmosphere.
warm air rising and cool air sinking
How can humidity affect weather?
high humidity can lead to precipitation and storms
How does thermal energy affect the state of water?
it can change water from solid to liquid or liquid to gas
How does the sun contribute to the water cycle?
Provides energy for evaporation
What is the term for the movement of warm air rising and cool air sinking?
Convection
Why does warm air rise?
because it is less dense than cool air
What instrument is used to measure humidity?
a hygrometer
What happens to particles in water when thermal energy is added?
they move faster and may change state
Describe how gravity affects the movement of water in the water cycle.
Causes water to flow downhill into rivers, lakes and oceans
Explain how locations with more direct sunlight differ from places with greater variance in sunlight.
Locations with more direct sunlight have fewer and smaller differences in temperature, than places with bigger changes in sunlight.
How does convection contribute to the formation of clouds?
warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses into droplets
Explain how temperature affects humidity levels.
warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air
Describe the relationship between thermal energy and temperature.
as thermal energy increases, temperature also increases
Explain how thermal energy affects the state of water.
Adding T.E. can change water from solid to liquid, or from liquid to gas
How does the Earth's rotation affect climate and temperature?
It causes changes in day and night which cause temperature differences leading to wind.
Describe how convection currents affect wind patterns on Earth.
they create patterns of moving air that influence weather and climate
How does evaporation relate to humidity?
evaporation increases humidity as water vapor enters the air
Explain how thermal energy is transferred in the water cycle.
through processes like evaporation and condensation