The water cycle

The water cycle has many routes and storage places. A drop can take a quick trip through a stream or a very slow trip underground.

Lesson 1 of 33 parts Practice Flashcards

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Evaporation and Condensation

Objective: Explain evaporation and condensation, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Evaporation: Evaporation changes liquid water into vapor through energy transfer. Condensation: Condensation changes water vapor into liquid droplets when conditions favor saturation. The water cycle conserves matter while moving water among storage locations and physical states. Evaporation requires energy, while condensation releases latent heat. The amount stored in a reservoir changes when inputs and outputs differ. Vegetation, soil, land cover, and seasonal conditions influence the pathways. A diagram with arrows shows possible transfers, but a quantitative water budget also needs rates and a specified time interval. Application: Sun-warmed lake water enters the air as vapor. This most directly illustrates evaporation. Cloud droplets form as moist air cools. This most directly illustrates condensation.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Sun-warmed lake water enters the air as vapor. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Sun-warmed lake water enters the air as vapor. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Evaporation changes liquid water into vapor through energy transfer. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of evaporation. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Cloud droplets form as moist air cools. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Cloud droplets form as moist air cools. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Condensation changes water vapor into liquid droplets when conditions favor saturation. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of condensation. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

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Evaporation and Condensation

Objective: Explain evaporation and condensation, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Sun-warmed lake water enters the air as vapor. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Cloud droplets form as moist air cools. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Precipitation and Infiltration

Objective: Explain precipitation and infiltration, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Precipitation: Precipitation is water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, or other forms. Infiltration: Infiltration is water entering the ground from the surface. The water cycle conserves matter while moving water among storage locations and physical states. Evaporation requires energy, while condensation releases latent heat. The amount stored in a reservoir changes when inputs and outputs differ. Vegetation, soil, land cover, and seasonal conditions influence the pathways. A diagram with arrows shows possible transfers, but a quantitative water budget also needs rates and a specified time interval. Application: Snow falls from a cloud onto a mountain. This most directly illustrates precipitation. Rain soaks into permeable soil. This most directly illustrates infiltration.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Snow falls from a cloud onto a mountain. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Snow falls from a cloud onto a mountain. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Precipitation is water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, or other forms. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of precipitation. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Rain soaks into permeable soil. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Rain soaks into permeable soil. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Infiltration is water entering the ground from the surface. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of infiltration. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Runoff and Transpiration

Objective: Explain runoff and transpiration, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Runoff: Runoff is water flowing over the land surface toward drainage channels. Transpiration: Transpiration transfers water vapor from plants to the atmosphere. The water cycle conserves matter while moving water among storage locations and physical states. Evaporation requires energy, while condensation releases latent heat. The amount stored in a reservoir changes when inputs and outputs differ. Vegetation, soil, land cover, and seasonal conditions influence the pathways. A diagram with arrows shows possible transfers, but a quantitative water budget also needs rates and a specified time interval. Application: Water flows across pavement into a storm drain. This most directly illustrates runoff. Leaves release water absorbed by roots. This most directly illustrates transpiration.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Water flows across pavement into a storm drain. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Water flows across pavement into a storm drain. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Runoff is water flowing over the land surface toward drainage channels. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of runoff. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Leaves release water absorbed by roots. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Leaves release water absorbed by roots. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Transpiration transfers water vapor from plants to the atmosphere. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of transpiration. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

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