The Water Cycle

Question 1

What is the definition of the water cycle?

Answer 1

The physical changes to water that change its state and geographical location

Question 2

What is evaporation?

Answer 2

As water is heated by the sun, it changes form from liquid to a gas.

Question 3

What is transpiration?

Answer 3

This is when water evaporates from plants, mainly through their leaves.

Question 4

What is condensation?

Answer 4

This is where gas changes back to a liquid.

Question 5

What is precipitation?

Answer 5

When so much water has condensed that the air can no longer hold it, it falls downwards. (rain)

Question 6

What is infiltration?

Answer 6

This is where water fills the porous spaces (cavities) in the soil, but continues to flow or slowly move.

Question 7

What is percolation?

Answer 7

This is where groundwater moves into the soil below the earth’s surface.

Question 8

What are the 3 steps of the water cycle?

Answer 8

1. Input
2. Transfer and Storage
3. Output

Question 9

What is input?

Answer 9

Precipitation (rain, hail or snow) enters the river drainage basin.

Question 10

What is transfer and storage steps? (3)

Answer 10

1. Surface runoff will go into rivers, lakes, dams and reservoirs
2. The remaining water will perform infiltration
3. It then sinks deep underground through the soil and rocks through percolation.

Question 11

What is output?

Answer 11

The water can flow out to sea