Water Properties

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What is physical weathering?

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Physical weathering is the process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition. An example is ice wedging, where water freezes in cracks and expands, causing the rock to break.

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What is a polar molecule?

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A polar molecule is a molecule that has electrically charged areas due to the unequal sharing of electrons. Water (H2O) is a common example, where the oxygen atom has a slight negative charge and the hydrogen atoms have a slight positive charge.

Front

What happens when energy is removed from liquid water?

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When energy is removed from liquid water, it cools down and can change into ice, which is the solid phase of water.

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What is precipitation?

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Precipitation is any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. Examples include rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

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What is adhesion in relation to water?

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Adhesion is the property of water that describes its ability to be attracted to other substances. This is important in processes like capillary action, where water moves through small spaces.

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What is cohesion in relation to water?

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Cohesion is the property of water that describes the attraction between water molecules. This leads to phenomena like surface tension, where water forms droplets.

Front

What is capillary action?

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Capillary action is the ability of water to flow in narrow spaces against gravity, due to the combined effects of adhesion and cohesion.

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What is the water cycle?

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The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. It includes processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.

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What is evaporation?

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Evaporation is the process by which liquid water turns into water vapor, usually due to heat. This is a key part of the water cycle.

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What is condensation?

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Condensation is the process by which water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds or dew.