The Water Cycle
Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 8.2.1
The Water Cycle
The water cycle describes how water particles move through our environment.
Liquid water in the ocean
- A water particle might start in oceans and lakes as a liquid.
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
- 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
- When water vapour (gas) particles condense, clouds are formed.
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
- 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.
Test yourself on The Water Cycle
Stages of the Water Cycle
When do water particles change from a liquid to a gas in the water cycle?