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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. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. What do we call the upper level of underground rock or soil that is completely saturated with groundwater: the water table or the treeline?
What do we call the upper … · The water cycle & freshwater
6. 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
7. 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
8. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
When snow and ice on a hig… · 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. 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
11. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
What happens to river disc… · The water cycle & freshwater
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 43 · 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. What do we call the upper level of underground rock or soil that is completely saturated with groundwater: the water table or the treeline?
Water table
The water table marks the top of the groundwater saturation zone.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
Sublimation
Sublimation converts solid ice directly into water vapour.
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. 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.
11. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
River flow increases
Runoff and throughflow reach the river channel, raising its discharge.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. What do we call the upper level of underground rock or soil that is completely saturated with groundwater: the water table or the treeline?
What do we call the upper … · The water cycle & freshwater
6. 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
7. 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
8. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
When snow and ice on a hig… · 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. 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
11. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
What happens to river disc… · The water cycle & freshwater
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. What do we call the upper level of underground rock or soil that is completely saturated with groundwater: the water table or the treeline?
Water table
The water table marks the top of the groundwater saturation zone.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
Sublimation
Sublimation converts solid ice directly into water vapour.
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. 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.
11. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
River flow increases
Runoff and throughflow reach the river channel, raising its discharge.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification