The Water Cycle Flashcards

Grade 3 · Science · Flashcards

Review the stages and vocabulary of Earth's water cycle.

Flashcards

water cycle: The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
evaporation: Liquid water changing into water vapor due to heat energy
condensation: Water vapor cooling and changing into liquid water droplets
precipitation: Water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
transpiration: Water vapor released into the air from plant leaves
runoff: Water flowing over land surface into streams and rivers
groundwater: Water that has soaked into the soil and collects underground
water vapor: Water in its gaseous form, invisible in the air
cloud: A visible mass of tiny water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere
aquifer: An underground layer of rock or soil that stores groundwater
watershed: An area of land where all water drains to the same river or body of water
humidity: The amount of water vapor in the air
glacier: A large, slow-moving mass of ice that stores freshwater
solar energy: Energy from the Sun; the driving force behind the water cycle