The Amazing Journey of Earth's Water
The Amazing Journey of Earth's Water
Did you know that the water you drink today might be the same water a dinosaur drank millions of years ago? This is because Earth’s water is always moving in a big circle called the water cycle. Even though water changes from a liquid to a gas or a solid, the total amount of water on our planet stays about the same.
The sun is the engine that keeps the water cycle moving. Its heat warms up the water in our oceans, lakes, and rivers. When water gets warm enough, it turns into an invisible gas called water vapor. This part of the journey is called evaporation. Plants help too! They pull water from the ground and let it out through tiny holes in their leaves. This is called transpiration.
As the water vapor rises high into the sky, the air gets colder. When the vapor cools down, it turns back into tiny liquid water droplets. These droplets grab onto bits of dust in the air to form clouds. This process is called condensation. You can see condensation on a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day!
- Evaporation:
- The process where liquid water turns into a gas called water vapor.
- Condensation:
- When water vapor cools down and turns back into liquid water droplets.
- Precipitation:
- Water that falls from clouds to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Aquifer:
- An underground layer of rock or soil that holds and stores water.
- Transpiration:
- The process by which plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves.
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- 1What is the main engine that keeps the water cycle moving?
- 2Does the total amount of water on Earth change over time?
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About this informational passage for 4th Grade
“The Amazing Journey of Earth's Water” is a informational reading passage about Water Cycle, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (348 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.