The Water Cycle
The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
I. Vocabulary Matching
1. ____ The main source of energy for the water cycle
2. ____ The process when crystals form
3. ____ When water vapor loses thermal energy and
becomes a liquid
4. ____ The movement of water both on and above
Earth's surface
A.
Sun
B.
Water cycle
C.
Transpiration
D.
Crystallization
E.
Condensation
5. _____ The process in which plants release moisture
into the air
II. Identification
Draw and label a diagram of the water cycle using the words below.
gravity
atmosphere
precipitation
water cycle
evaporation
transpiration
condensation
runoff
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The Water Cycle
The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
III. Open-Ended Response
Answer the questions below. Use additional paper if needed.
1. What do the phase changes (condensation, evaporation, crystallization) in the water cycle have
in common?
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2. Explain how sunlight and gravity affect the water cycle on Earth.
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