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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 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
2. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
What do we call the entire… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. 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
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. 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 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 47 · 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 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.
2. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
Watershed (drainage basin)
A watershed or drainage basin collects all runoff feeding a river network.
3. 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.
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. 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 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
What do we call the entire… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. 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
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. 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 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
Watershed (drainage basin)
A watershed or drainage basin collects all runoff feeding a river network.
3. 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.
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. 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 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 47 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification