π What is the Water Cycle?
The water cycle is like a big circle that water travels around the Earth. It never stops! It's how water moves from the sky to the ground and back again.
π§ The Four Main Steps
- βοΈ Evaporation: This is when the sun heats up water in lakes, rivers, and oceans and turns it into a gas called water vapor. Think of it like when you boil water and see steam!
- βοΈ Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the air, it gets cold and turns back into tiny liquid droplets. These droplets join together to form clouds.
- π§οΈ Precipitation: When the clouds get full of water droplets, they fall back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- ποΈ Collection: The water that falls to the ground collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Then, the sun heats the water again, and the cycle starts all over!
π Why is the Water Cycle Important?
- π± Provides Fresh Water: The water cycle cleans and redistributes water, giving us the fresh water we need to drink and grow plants.
- π Regulates Temperature: It helps to regulate the Earth's temperature by moving heat around.
- π³ Supports Ecosystems: The water cycle is essential for all living things and helps to support ecosystems around the world.
π§ͺ Fun Experiment: Mini Water Cycle in a Bag
You can create your own mini water cycle at home!
- Draw a sun and some clouds on a Ziploc bag.
- Pour a little bit of water into the bag.
- Seal the bag and tape it to a sunny window.
- Watch as the water evaporates, condenses, and then "rains" down inside the bag!
β Quiz Time!
- What is the first step of the water cycle?
- What happens during condensation?
- What are the different types of precipitation?
- Where does the water collect after it rains?