Water Cycle and States of Matter Vocabulary

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Aquifer

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An underground layer of porous rock and/or sand that contains water.

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Condensation

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Change from a gas to a liquid. Occurs when water vapor is cooled, forming clouds, mist, and fog.

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Evaporation

Back

Change from a liquid to a gas at temperatures below boiling.

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Freezing

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Changing from a liquid to a solid.

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Glacier

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A large, slowly moving body of snow and ice.

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Melting

Back

Changing from a solid to a liquid.

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Phase change

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A change from one state of matter to another, such as freezing, melting, evaporation, boiling, and condensation.

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Precipitation

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Water that falls to Earth’s surface, including rain, sleet, snow, hail, and mist.

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Reservoir

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A body of water, often an artificial lake, used to store water for human use.

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Runoff

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Water that moves across the surface of land into streams or rivers, often carrying pollutants.