Water Cycle Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the processes, forms, and scientific study of the Earth's water cycle.

Water Cycle

The process of water evaporating and condensing on planet Earth in a continuous process that has been happening for millions of years.

Evaporation

The process of water turning from a liquid into a gas, which is powered by the sun and happens faster on hot days.

Water Vapor

Water in its gas form, which has no color and cannot be seen.

Condensation

The process of water turning from a gas into a liquid, occurring when water vapor rises high enough into the sky or meets a cold surface.

Clouds

Billions and billions of tiny water droplets formed from condensed water vapor floating high above the ground.

Dew

Condensation that forms close to the ground, usually found on grass.

Fog

A form of condensation that occurs when water vapor rises only a little bit above the ground.

Precipitation

Water falling back to Earth when droplets get heavy enough, occurring as rain, snow, or hail.

Rain

Liquid water that falls as precipitation.

Snow

Frozen water that falls as precipitation.

Hail

Big pieces of frozen water that fall as precipitation.

Meteorologists

Scientists who study how water moves around the atmosphere in order to predict the weather.

Distillation process

A process where water is heated until it becomes water vapor, which then enters a special tube to cool and become liquid again.