8.2.1
The Water Cycle
The Water Cycle
The Water Cycle
The water cycle describes how water particles move through our environment.


Liquid water in the ocean
Liquid water in the ocean
- A water particle might start in oceans and lakes as a liquid.


Water evaporates
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.


Water vapour condenses
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.


Clouds
Clouds
- When water vapour (gas) particles condense, clouds are formed.


Rain falls
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.


Completing the cycle
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.
1Year 3: Plants
2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 3: Rocks
3.1Rocks on Earth
4Year 3: Light
4.1What is Light?
5Year 3: Forces & Magnets
6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Grouping Animals
6.4Grouping Plants
6.5Classification Keys
7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans
7.1Teeth
7.2Digestion
8Year 4: States of Matter
8.1The 3 States of Matter
8.2The Water Cycle
9Year 4: Sound
9.1How Do I Hear?
9.2Pitch
10Year 4: Electricity
10.1Uses of Electricity
10.2Conductors & Insulators
10.3Making Circuits
Jump to other topics
1Year 3: Plants
2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 3: Rocks
3.1Rocks on Earth
4Year 3: Light
4.1What is Light?
5Year 3: Forces & Magnets
6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Grouping Animals
6.4Grouping Plants
6.5Classification Keys
7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans
7.1Teeth
7.2Digestion
8Year 4: States of Matter
8.1The 3 States of Matter
8.2The Water Cycle
9Year 4: Sound
9.1How Do I Hear?
9.2Pitch
10Year 4: Electricity
10.1Uses of Electricity
10.2Conductors & Insulators
10.3Making Circuits
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