READING MATERIAL

Read About the Water Cycle

WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states.
Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground. Solid water is found as snow
or ice. The gaseous form of water is found as water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere.

To better understand the water cycle…

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

The Cycling of Water

Earth’s water is continuously being
moved on, above, and below the
surface of Earth. Water is always
changing states between liquid, gas
(vapor), and solid (ice). Water moves
and cycles between the ocean,
atmosphere, and land. Water
evaporates from the surface of Earth,
rises into the atmosphere, cools and
condenses, and falls again to the
surface as precipitation.

The water falling on land moves along the surface in rivers and streams and collects in bodies of
water such as lakes and oceans. Most water that falls on the land soaks into the ground, where it
can spend long periods of time trapped in the spaces between rocks and soil. Groundwater is the
source of water for plants to grow, and humans have relied on groundwater as a drinking source
for thousands of years.

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Phase Changes
All matter is made of tiny moving
particles called molecules. All matter
can move from one state to another.
The three normal states of matter are
solid, liquid, and gas. However, some
matter may require extreme
temperatures and pressures in order to
change states. Water, like all states of
matter, requires the addition or removal
of energy to change states. When heat
energy is added to water, ice melts into a liquid and liquids evaporate into a gas. When heat is
removed, gas condenses to a liquid and liquids crystallize into a solid.

Phase changes between the states of matter happen when you reach certain points of
temperature and pressure. Water has a freezing and melting point of 0°C or 32°F. The freezing point
is when liquid water turns to solid ice, and the melting point is when solid ice turns to liquid water.
These are the same two transitions of states of matter between a solid and a liquid. Water has a
boiling and condensation point of 100°C or 212°F. The boiling point is when liquid water turns into a
gas, and the condensation point is when gas turns into a liquid. These are the two transitions of
states of matter between liquid water and the gas form of water (called water vapor).

Sun Energy
The solar radiation that comes from the
Sun contains energy that drives the
water to move through the water cycle.
The Sun’s heat causes glaciers and
snow to melt into liquid water. It also
causes water to evaporate from
oceans, lakes, and streams. The process
of water evaporating from the leaves of
plants is called transpiration. The Sun’s
heat also warms water vapor, causing it
to rise up through Earth’s atmosphere, where it condenses back into liquid water and creates
clouds. All of these processes are driven by energy from the Sun and continually move water
through the water cycle.

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Gravity and Water Collection
Gravity is an attractive force that also
helps move water through the water
cycle. Water is pulled down from higher
elevations by gravity into rivers, streams,
and underground. Gravity also pulls
water down from the atmosphere when
it rains, snows, or hails. Most of the water
that falls to the ground will soak into the
ground and collect as underground
water. When water reaches the ends of
rivers or streams, it will begin to collect in bodies of water such as lakes or oceans.

Groundwater Flow
Water is continually moving
underground downward and sideways
because of gravity and pressure.
Groundwater is a major contributor to
flow in many streams and rivers and has
a strong influence on river and wetland
habitats for plants and animals. People
have relied on groundwater for
thousands of years as a source of
drinking water and irrigation for
agriculture.

The vast majority of groundwater occupies space between soil and rock particles. The ground acts
like a sponge as it soaks up water into these spaces. At a certain depth below the land surface,
larger spaces of collected groundwater can be found called aquifers. Water can also hit areas
underground that are denser or have less space for water storage such as nonporous rock. This
causes the water to flow in a more horizontal fashion, generally toward streams, oceans, or deeper
underground.

WATER CYCLE VOCABULARY

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Evaporation The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.

The process of water being released from clouds in the form or rain, hail or
Precipitation
snow.

Condensation The process of water vapor turning into liquid water.

Gravity The force of attraction between two objects because of their masses.

Sun Energy Energy produced or radiated by the Sun.

Groundwater Water beneath the surface of the ground.

WATER CYCLE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

How does heat from the Sun turn liquid water into a gas called water vapor?

The energy from the Sun increases the energy of the water molecules when they are heated. This
causes the water molecules to vibrate or move faster until some of them escape to become water
vapor.

Explain how energy from the Sun drives the water cycle.

The Sun’s energy evaporates water into the atmosphere from all types of sources, including bodies
of water, plants, and animals. This water eventually falls back to Earth and moves along Earth’s
surface until it is evaporated again by the Sun. The energy from the Sun is a driving force that gets
the water cycling in and out of the atmosphere.

How do plants contribute to the water cycle?

Water travels from the soil, through the plant, and then evaporates from the leaves into the
atmosphere.

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How do clouds form?

When water vapor in the air loses heat or thermal energy to the atmosphere, the gas loses energy
and changes its state to a liquid through a process called condensation. These tiny liquid water
droplets are what form clouds.

How do snowflakes form?

Snowflakes form in cold temperatures when water vapor or water droplets begin to crystalize into
solid water or ice. They can continue to grow bigger when more ice crystals are added until they
eventually fall to Earth.

How can the water molecules you drink today be millions of years old?

Water molecules today have been continuously cycling on Earth for millions of years. The same
processes of evaporation, precipitation, and condensation that are happening today have been
happening for millions of years

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