The Water Cycle Vocabulary (F&C)

Front

What is precipitation?

Back

Precipitation is any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Front

What force drives precipitation?

Back

Gravity drives precipitation, pulling water droplets down to the Earth's surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of the tiny particles that make up matter; the faster the particles move, the warmer the matter becomes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Front

What is runoff?

Back

Runoff is the rainfall or surface water that drains and flows from the land into streams, rivers, lakes, or the ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Front

What force drives evaporation?

Back

The sun drives evaporation by providing the heat needed to turn liquid water into vapor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Front

What is the atmosphere?

Back

The atmosphere is the layer of gas surrounding a planet that is held in place by gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is the hydrosphere?

Back

The hydrosphere includes all the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and water vapor in the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Front

What is the biosphere?

Back

The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems, where life exists on Earth, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Front

What is the geosphere?

Back

The geosphere is the solid part of the Earth, including rocks, soil, and the landforms.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

What is evaporation?

Back

Evaporation is the process by which liquid water is transformed into water vapor, usually driven by heat from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4