Water Cycle
Discover how water moves around our planet in an endless cycle!
What is the Water Cycle?
The water cycle is nature's way of recycling water! It's the amazing process where water moves around our planet, changing from liquid to vapor to ice and back again.
Think of it like Earth's water recycling system. Water from oceans, lakes, and rivers evaporates into the air, forms clouds, falls as rain or snow, and then flows back to where it started. This cycle has been happening for billions of years, and it gives us the water we need to live!
Water Fact!
The water you drink today is the same water that dinosaurs drank millions of years ago!
Steps of the Water Cycle
The water cycle has four main steps that keep water moving around our planet. Let's explore each one:
Evaporation
The sun heats water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into invisible water vapor that rises into the air
Condensation
Water vapor cools high in the sky and turns back into liquid water droplets, forming clouds
Precipitation
When clouds get too heavy, water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Collection
Water collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, or soaks into the ground, ready to start the cycle again
This amazing process is always happening all around us! Plants also help through transpiration - they "sweat" water from their leaves that joins the water cycle too.
Cloud Fact!
A single cloud can contain millions of pounds of water! That's why rain can fall for hours from just one cloud.
Why the Water Cycle is Important
The water cycle is essential for all life on Earth! Here's why it's so important:
Fresh Water Supply
Provides fresh water for drinking, farming, and all living things
Supports Ecosystems
Helps plants grow and provides habitats for animals
Weather Patterns
Creates rain, snow, and clouds that shape our weather
Without the water cycle, there would be:
• No fresh water for drinking or growing food
• No rivers, lakes, or oceans as we know them
• No rain to help plants grow
• No weather patterns to distribute heat around the planet
The water cycle connects all living things and keeps our planet alive and beautiful!
Water Cycle Quiz
Test your water cycle knowledge with this fun quiz! Answer all 5 questions to see how much you've learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about the water cycle:
Fun Water Cycle Trivia
Discover some amazing facts about the water cycle!
Ancient Water
Some of the water on Earth today is over 4 billion years old! That means the water you drink could have been part of ancient oceans or even drunk by dinosaurs.
Ocean Power
About 97% of Earth's water is in the oceans. Only 3% is fresh water, and most of that is frozen in glaciers and ice caps!
Raindrop Journey
A raindrop falling in the ocean might evaporate again in just a few days, but one that soaks into the ground could stay underground for thousands of years before rejoining the cycle.
Cloud Weight
A typical cumulus cloud may look light and fluffy, but it actually weighs about 1.1 million pounds! That's as heavy as 100 elephants!
