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The water cycle & freshwater

Trace evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration and infiltration across the water cycle. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
When spring temperatures w… · The water cycle & freshwater
2. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
What happens when moist ai… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. What do we call an underground layer of permeable rock, sand or gravel that holds groundwater: an aquifer or a canopy?
What do we call an undergr… · The water cycle & freshwater
4. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
What do we call the proces… · The water cycle & freshwater
5. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
What role do trees play in… · The water cycle & freshwater
6. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
Where is most of Earth’s f… · The water cycle & freshwater
7. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
What do we call water that… · The water cycle & freshwater
8. Is water in an open shallow pan on a sunny, breezy afternoon likely to evaporate faster or slower than water in a narrow bottle in the shade?
Is water in an open shallo… · The water cycle & freshwater
9. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
97% · The water cycle & freshwater
10. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
How does paving over grass… · The water cycle & freshwater
11. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
12. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
When ocean water evaporate… · The water cycle & freshwater

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
Snowmelt runoff
Seasonal snowmelt feeds rivers and reservoirs in spring.
2. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
It cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side
Orographic (relief) lifting cools rising moist air, causing condensation and rainfall.
3. What do we call an underground layer of permeable rock, sand or gravel that holds groundwater: an aquifer or a canopy?
Aquifer
Aquifers store groundwater that supplies wells and springs.
4. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
Infiltration (percolation)
Infiltration replenishes soil moisture and underground aquifers.
5. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
Their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil
Forest cover slows runoff and reduces soil erosion and flooding.
6. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
In glaciers and polar ice caps
Around two-thirds of Earth’s fresh water is frozen in ice sheets and glaciers.
7. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
Surface runoff
Water that does not soak into the soil flows downhill as surface runoff.
8. Is water in an open shallow pan on a sunny, breezy afternoon likely to evaporate faster or slower than water in a narrow bottle in the shade?
Faster
Greater surface area, higher temperature and air movement all increase evaporation rate.
9. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
In the oceans and seas
Salty ocean water accounts for roughly 97% of Earth’s total water.
10. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
It increases surface runoff
Impermeable surfaces prevent water from soaking into the ground, increasing rapid runoff.
11. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
Condensation
Cooling causes water vapour to condense into liquid droplets or ice crystals.
12. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
Stays behind in the sea
Only pure water molecules evaporate; dissolved salts remain in the ocean, which is why rain is fresh water.

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
When spring temperatures w… · The water cycle & freshwater
2. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
What happens when moist ai… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. What do we call an underground layer of permeable rock, sand or gravel that holds groundwater: an aquifer or a canopy?
What do we call an undergr… · The water cycle & freshwater
4. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
What do we call the proces… · The water cycle & freshwater
5. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
What role do trees play in… · The water cycle & freshwater
6. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
Where is most of Earth’s f… · The water cycle & freshwater
7. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
What do we call water that… · The water cycle & freshwater
8. Is water in an open shallow pan on a sunny, breezy afternoon likely to evaporate faster or slower than water in a narrow bottle in the shade?
Is water in an open shallo… · The water cycle & freshwater
9. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
97% · The water cycle & freshwater
10. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
How does paving over grass… · The water cycle & freshwater
11. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
12. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
When ocean water evaporate… · The water cycle & freshwater

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
Snowmelt runoff
Seasonal snowmelt feeds rivers and reservoirs in spring.
2. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
It cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side
Orographic (relief) lifting cools rising moist air, causing condensation and rainfall.
3. What do we call an underground layer of permeable rock, sand or gravel that holds groundwater: an aquifer or a canopy?
Aquifer
Aquifers store groundwater that supplies wells and springs.
4. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
Infiltration (percolation)
Infiltration replenishes soil moisture and underground aquifers.
5. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
Their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil
Forest cover slows runoff and reduces soil erosion and flooding.
6. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
In glaciers and polar ice caps
Around two-thirds of Earth’s fresh water is frozen in ice sheets and glaciers.
7. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
Surface runoff
Water that does not soak into the soil flows downhill as surface runoff.
8. Is water in an open shallow pan on a sunny, breezy afternoon likely to evaporate faster or slower than water in a narrow bottle in the shade?
Faster
Greater surface area, higher temperature and air movement all increase evaporation rate.
9. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
In the oceans and seas
Salty ocean water accounts for roughly 97% of Earth’s total water.
10. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
It increases surface runoff
Impermeable surfaces prevent water from soaking into the ground, increasing rapid runoff.
11. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
Condensation
Cooling causes water vapour to condense into liquid droplets or ice crystals.
12. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
Stays behind in the sea
Only pure water molecules evaporate; dissolved salts remain in the ocean, which is why rain is fresh water.

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification