The Water Cycle Quiz

What percentage of the Earth's water is stored in the ocean?

Freshwater can be found in lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Name one process by which plants lose water.

The four stages of the water cycle are: ____________, ____________, ____________, and ____________.

Match the following terms with their correct meanings:

What is the primary process through which plants lose water?

The water cycle has a definitive beginning and ending.

What are the four main parts of the water cycle?

Water vapor in the air gets cold during _____ and changes back into liquid.

Match the following terms with their correct descriptions:

What causes precipitation to occur?

The ocean is the largest storage of water on Earth.

How long has Earth been recycling water?

Overview of the Water Cycle

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water around the Earth, with no defined beginning or end.
Water on Earth has been recycling for over 4 billion years.

Key Processes in the Water Cycle

Evaporation:
- Occurs when the sun heats water in rivers, lakes, or oceans, turning it into vapor or steam.
- Transpiration from plants contributes to evaporation by releasing water vapor from leaves.
Convection:
- Heated air near the surface rises, carrying heat upwards.
- As water vapor cools, it condenses back into liquid water, forming clouds (condensation).
- Example: Water droplets form on a cold glass due to condensation from warm air.
Precipitation:
- Happens when clouds become heavy with condensed water, leading to water falling back to Earth in various forms: rain, hail, sleet, or snow.
Collection/Storage:
- Earth's water is stored in different locations, with the ocean being the largest source, containing about 96% of Earth's water.
- Freshwater is found in lakes, glaciers, snow caps, rivers, and groundwater storage.

Fun Facts

Plants "sweat" through a process called transpiration.
The cycle exemplifies a natural recycling process essential for sustaining life on Earth.

This quiz explores the water cycle and its significance in Earth's ecosystem. Learn about its processes, such as evaporation and transpiration, and discover interesting facts about how water has been recycled for billions of years. Test your knowledge on this endless cycle that sustains life on Earth.