The Water Cycle — Passage and Quiz

The Water Cycle

Water is always moving around our planet in a never-ending cycle. This amazing journey is called the water cycle. It starts when the sun heats up water in oceans, lakes, and rivers. The water turns into a gas called water vapor and rises into the sky. This process is called evaporation.

As the water vapor goes up, it cools down and turns back into tiny water droplets. These droplets come together to form clouds. This is called condensation. When the clouds get heavy with water, they release it as rain or snow. This is called precipitation.

Some of this water soaks into the ground, where plants can use it. Some of it flows into rivers and streams, eventually making its way back to the oceans. This is called runoff. Water that goes deep into the ground is called groundwater.

The water cycle keeps repeating over and over. It's important because it gives us fresh water to drink, helps plants grow, and keeps our planet's temperature just right. Without the water cycle, life on Earth would be very different!

The water cycle has no start or end point. It's always happening all around us, even if we can't see it. Every time you see a cloud, rain, or steam from a pot of boiling water, you're watching part of the water cycle in action!