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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. 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
2. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
What energy source drives … · The water cycle & freshwater
3. What stage of the water cycle occurs when cloud droplets grow heavy enough to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail: precipitation or evaporation?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
4. 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
5. 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
6. What stage of the water cycle occurs when liquid water at the ocean surface warms and turns into water vapour: evaporation or precipitation?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
7. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
What do we call the releas… · The water cycle & freshwater
8. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
0 °C · The water cycle & freshwater
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. Does the water cycle create brand-new water or continuously recycle the same water molecules through different states?
Does the water cycle creat… · The water cycle & freshwater

12 questions · Seed 104734 · 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. 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.
2. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
The Sun
Solar radiation provides the thermal energy for evaporation and transpiration.
3. What stage of the water cycle occurs when cloud droplets grow heavy enough to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail: precipitation or evaporation?
Precipitation
Precipitation returns water from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. What stage of the water cycle occurs when liquid water at the ocean surface warms and turns into water vapour: evaporation or precipitation?
Evaporation
Evaporation changes liquid surface water into atmospheric water vapour.
7. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
Transpiration
Plants absorb soil water through roots and release water vapour from leaves via transpiration.
8. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
Snow
Snowflakes form by deposition of water vapour onto ice crystals in clouds.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Does the water cycle create brand-new water or continuously recycle the same water molecules through different states?
Continuously recycles the same water molecules
The hydrologic cycle is a closed system that circulates water between reservoirs.

12 questions · Seed 104734 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
What energy source drives … · The water cycle & freshwater
3. What stage of the water cycle occurs when cloud droplets grow heavy enough to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail: precipitation or evaporation?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
4. 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
5. 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
6. What stage of the water cycle occurs when liquid water at the ocean surface warms and turns into water vapour: evaporation or precipitation?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
7. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
What do we call the releas… · The water cycle & freshwater
8. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
0 °C · The water cycle & freshwater
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. Does the water cycle create brand-new water or continuously recycle the same water molecules through different states?
Does the water cycle creat… · The water cycle & freshwater

12 questions · Seed 104734 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
The Sun
Solar radiation provides the thermal energy for evaporation and transpiration.
3. What stage of the water cycle occurs when cloud droplets grow heavy enough to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail: precipitation or evaporation?
Precipitation
Precipitation returns water from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. What stage of the water cycle occurs when liquid water at the ocean surface warms and turns into water vapour: evaporation or precipitation?
Evaporation
Evaporation changes liquid surface water into atmospheric water vapour.
7. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
Transpiration
Plants absorb soil water through roots and release water vapour from leaves via transpiration.
8. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
Snow
Snowflakes form by deposition of water vapour onto ice crystals in clouds.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Does the water cycle create brand-new water or continuously recycle the same water molecules through different states?
Continuously recycles the same water molecules
The hydrologic cycle is a closed system that circulates water between reservoirs.

12 questions · Seed 104734 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification