The Water Cycle
⭐ MasteredWater evaporates, rises, condenses into clouds, then falls as rain or snow. Then it flows back to rivers and seas to start again.
The water you drink today may be millions of years old.
All about The Water Cycle
The water cycle is the continuous journey water makes around our planet. The Sun heats water in oceans, lakes and rivers, and it evaporates into water vapour. Plants also release water vapour through their leaves.
As the vapour rises and cools, it condenses into tiny droplets that form clouds. When the droplets grow heavy, they fall as precipitation such as rain, snow or hail. The water then runs back to rivers and seas, and the cycle begins again.
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Real-life uses of The Water Cycle
- Explaining why rain falls and where drinking water comes from
- Helping farmers plan when to plant and water crops
- Understanding floods, droughts and how reservoirs are filled
Frequently asked questions about The Water Cycle
What are the main parts of the water cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection. Water moves through all of them again and again.
Is the water on Earth new?
No. Most water has been recycled for millions of years, so the water you drink may once have been drunk by dinosaurs.
What makes water evaporate?
Heat from the Sun, and also wind, which carries water vapour away from the surface.