8.2.1

The Water Cycle

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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.
Jump to other topics
1

Year 3: Plants

1.1

Types of Plants

1.1.1Flowering & Non-flowering Plants
1.2

Parts of a Plant

1.2.1Roots1.2.2What do Roots do?1.2.3Stem1.2.4Leaves1.2.5How Leaves Make Food1.2.6Flowers
1.3

Pollination

1.3.1Pollination1.3.2Pollination by Insects1.3.3Pollination by the Wind
1.4

Seeds

1.4.1Types of Seeds1.4.2Dispersing Seeds
2

Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1

Food

2.1.1The Need for Food2.1.2Food Groups2.1.3Carbohydrates2.1.4Proteins2.1.5Dairy2.1.6Fruit & Vegetables2.1.7Fats2.1.8Junk Food
2.2

Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.1Skeletons & Muscles2.2.2Healthy Bones
3

Year 3: Rocks

3.1

Rocks on Earth

3.1.1Rocks3.1.2Fossils
4

Year 3: Light

4.1

What is Light?

4.1.1Light as Energy4.1.2Reflections4.1.3Sunlight4.1.4Shadows
5

Year 3: Forces & Magnets

5.1

Forces

5.1.1What is a Force?5.1.2Contact & Non-Contact Forces5.1.3Testing Magnetic Materials5.1.4Attracting & Repelling Magnets5.1.5Uses of Magnets
6

Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1

Grouping Animals

6.1.1Biodiversity & Classification6.1.2Grouping Animals
6.2

Vertebrates

6.2.1Vertebrates6.2.2Mammals6.2.3Reptiles6.2.4Fish6.2.5Amphibians6.2.6Birds
6.3

Invertebrates

6.3.1Invertebrates6.3.2Insects6.3.3Spiders6.3.4Slugs & Snails6.3.5Worms
6.4

Grouping Plants

6.4.1Grouping Plants6.4.2Flowering Plants6.4.3Non-Flowering Plants
6.5

Classification Keys

6.5.1Classification Keys
6.6

Environmental Change

6.6.1Positive Impact of Humans on the Environment6.6.2Negative Impact of Humans: Deforestation6.6.3Negative Impact of Humans: Litter6.6.4Negative Impact of Humans: Overpopulation
7

Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

7.1

Teeth

7.1.1Why Do We Need Teeth?7.1.2'Baby' Teeth7.1.3Adult Teeth7.1.4Incisors7.1.5Canines7.1.6Premolars7.1.7Molars
7.2

Digestion

7.2.1What is Digestion?7.2.2The Digestive System - The Mouth7.2.3The Digestive System - The Stomach7.2.4The Digestive System - The Small Intestines7.2.5The Digestive System - The Large Intestines
7.3

Food Chains

7.3.1What are Food Chains?7.3.2Producers, Predators & Prey7.3.3Herbivores & Carnivores
8

Year 4: States of Matter

8.1

The 3 States of Matter

8.1.1States of Matter8.1.2Changes of State
8.2

The Water Cycle

8.2.1The Water Cycle8.2.2Evaporation at Different Temperatures
9

Year 4: Sound

9.1

How Do I Hear?

9.1.1What is Sound?9.1.2Sound Travels to Your Ear
9.2

Pitch

9.2.1Pitch
9.3

Volume

9.3.1Volume9.3.2How Distance Affect Volume
10

Year 4: Electricity

10.1

Uses of Electricity

10.1.1What Uses Electricity?
10.2

Conductors & Insulators

10.2.1Electrical Conductors10.2.2Electrical Insulators
10.3

Making Circuits

10.3.1What is a Circuit?10.3.2Complete Circuits10.3.3Electrical Safety

Practice questions on The Water Cycle

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Stages of the Water CyclePut in order
  2. 2
    When do water particles change from a liquid to a gas in the water cycle?Multiple choice
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Changes of State

Evaporation at Different Temperatures