Describe the flow of matter and energy in the water cycle

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Middle School Life Science › Describe the flow of matter and energy in the water cycle

Questions 1 - 10
1

What is the name of the area underground that contains groundwater?

an aquifer

a watershed

a well

a water table

Explanation

The answer is "an aquifer."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

2

Where does most of Earth's water exist?

in the oceans

in the atmosphere

as lakes, rivers, or streams

underground

Explanation

The answer is "in the oceans."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

3

Where does the energy that powers the hydrologic cycle originate from?

the sun

plants

animals

electricity

Explanation

The answer is "the sun."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

4

Which of these shows the correct order of processes water will travel through if we begin to follow it as a rain drop?

precipitation, runoff, collection, evaporation, condensation, precipitation

runoff, condensation, precipitation, evaporation, precipitation, collection,

runoff, precipitation, condensation, evaporation, collection,

collection, precipitation, runoff, condensation, evaporation,

Explanation

The answer is "precipitation, runoff, collection, evaporation, condensation, precipitation."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

5

Where is most of Earth's fresh water?

frozen in glaciers

under ground

in lakes and rivers

made by purifying salt water

Explanation

The answer is "frozen in glaciers."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

6

What is the most effective way to increase the rate of evaporation of a body of water?

increasing the surface area

decreasing the movement of air over the surface

increasing the volume

decreasing the temperature

Explanation

The answer is "increasing the surface area" because there is more water being warmed at once.

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

7

About how much of Earth's water is fresh water?

3%

97%

1%

30%

Explanation

The answer is "3%"

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

8

What process in the hydrological cycle returns water back to lakes, oceans, and rivers from the atmosphere?

precipitation

condensation

sublimation

deposition

Explanation

The answer is "precipitation."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

9

Which process describes the movement of water from leaves on a tree into the atmosphere?

Transpiration

Condensation

Evaporation

Sublimation

Explanation

The answer is "transpiration."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

10

Which of these is NOT a process in the water cycle?

denitrification

sublimation

condensation

evaporation

Explanation

The answer is "denitrification."

The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, describes the flow of water on Earth. Most of Earth’s water exists in the oceans. Some important processes in the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, and sublimation or deposition. Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses in clouds, and rains down (precipitates) back to the Earth, where it is collected in oceans or as runoff in rivers and streams that lead back to the oceans.

Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and most of that is frozen in glaciers rather than available to us in lakes, rivers, or groundwater stores. Snow melt is a form of runoff but some snow can return to the atmosphere through a process called sublimation, and back to snow from a gaseous state through deposition.

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