8.2.1

The Water Cycle

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The Water Cycle

The water cycle describes how water particles move through our environment.

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Liquid water in the ocean

  • A water particle might start in oceans and lakes as a liquid.
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Water evaporates

  • The energy from the Sun heats up the water.
  • Heating the water causes some of the water particles to evaporate.
  • Water (liquid) evaporates into water vapour (gas) in the air.
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Water vapour condenses

  • The water vapour (gas) particles rise up in the air.
  • As water vapour particles rise, they cool down.
    • Water vapour condenses into liquid water when it is cooled.
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Clouds

  • When water vapour (gas) particles condense, clouds are formed.
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Rain falls

  • The winds move the clouds in the sky.
  • The water (liquid) in the clouds falls back to Earth as rain, snow or hail.
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Completing the cycle

  • Rain on the land finds its way into streams, rivers and lakes.
  • Streams, rivers and lakes eventually flow back into the ocean and the cycle begins again.

Jump to other topics

1Year 3: Plants

2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

3Year 3: Rocks

3.1Rocks on Earth

4Year 3: Light

5Year 3: Forces & Magnets

6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

8Year 4: States of Matter

9Year 4: Sound

10Year 4: Electricity

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