Chapter 39 The Water Cycle

Question 1

What is the water cycle

Answer 1

The water cycle is the movement of water from the oceans to the atmosphere and back to the oceans

Question 2

Name the 6 stages of the water cycle

Answer 2

Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Infiltration
Run-off
Transpiration

Question 3

Define the term, evaporation

Answer 3

Evaporation is the changing of water in the form of a liquid to water in the form of a gas.

Question 4

Define the term condensation

Answer 4

Condensation takes place when a gas changes to liquid.

Question 5

Define the term precipitation

Answer 5

When the water droplets that are held within clouds become too heavy to be held in the cloud, the water falls back to Earth as rain, sleet or snow. This is called precipitation.

Question 6

Define the term infiltration

Answer 6

Infiltration occurs when the rain hits the ground and infiltrates or soaks through the soil and the rocks. This water then collects and forms ground water.

Question 7

Define the term run-off

Answer 7

Run-off is the draining away of water from an area of land.

Question 8

Define the term transpiration

Answer 8

Plants are constantly taking up water from the soil through their roots. To continue this uptake of water from the soil, the plants must lose water into the air from their leaves in the form of water vapour. This loss of water from plants is called transpiration.

Question 9

What are the six stages of the carbon cycle

Answer 9

1.The atmosphere to plants
2. Plants to animals
3. Plants and animals to the ground
4. Living things into the atmosphere
5. Fossil fuels back into the atmosphere
6. The atmosphere into the oceans.

Question 10

Why is carbon important?

Answer 10

Earth has only a certain amount of carbon and it is very important that nature continues to cycle to maintain a supply. As plants need carbon to survive and humans need plants to survive.

Question 11

Define the term decompose

Answer 11

This is when micro organisms break down into smaller pieces

Question 12

Define the term carbon sink

Answer 12

In nature places that store car are called carbon sinks or reservoirs, e.g. a forest

Question 13

Define the term a carbon source

Answer 13

Places where carbon is given off or released in great quantities are called carbon sources e.g. a volcanic eruption