Water Cycle
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between Earth’s surface and atmosphere through evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.
Practice This ConceptMain explanation
Teacher explanation
Solar heat evaporates water from oceans, lakes, and soil. Plants add water vapour by transpiration. Water vapour cools and condenses to form clouds. When droplets become heavy, precipitation occurs as rain, snow, or hail. Water then returns to rivers, groundwater, and oceans.
Example
After a hot day, water evaporates from a pond, forms clouds after cooling, and later returns as rainfall.
Simple analogy
Heat lifts water; cooling makes clouds; gravity brings rain.
Common confusion
Students sometimes treat the water cycle as having a fixed starting point. It is a continuous cycle, so any stage can be used to begin an explanation.
Exam tip
Use arrows and sequence words: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff or infiltration, and collection.
Study the water cycle diagram carefully
Use the labelled diagram to keep water cycle clear in short answers and revision.
What this diagram makes clear
This diagram keeps the labels and direction of water cycle in the right order.
Where this helps in exams
Use this for labelled diagram work and short exam answers on water cycle.
Revision cue
Revise water cycle through the labels before writing the answer.
Answer writing and exam use
1-mark use
Write the exact meaning of water cycle in one clean line.
2-mark use
Define water cycle and add one example or condition.
3-mark use
Explain water cycle, show the method or example, and mention the common mistake.
Practice this concept with focused MCQs
Open the concept quiz intro first, review the test details, and then start a focused MCQ set from this concept only. Instant score and answer review are live now.
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