Water Cycle Worksheet - Free Printable

Water Cycle Worksheet

Here is the solution to the worksheet, along with explanations for each answer:

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#### 1. The water cycle is also called the _______________.
- Answer: Hydrologic Cycle
- Explanation: The water cycle is often referred to as the "hydrologic cycle" because it describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

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#### 2. ____________ is the process that turns water vapor into liquid, which causes the formation of a cloud.
- Answer: Condensation
- Explanation: Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air cools and changes back into liquid form, forming clouds. This is a key step in the water cycle.

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#### 3. After it rains, the water can either end up on land or ____________.
- Answer: Runoff
- Explanation: When it rains, some water stays on the land (in lakes, rivers, etc.), while some flows over the surface as runoff, eventually returning to bodies of water like rivers, lakes, or oceans.

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#### 4. When water evaporates from a leaf, this process is called ____________.
- Answer: Transpiration
- Explanation: Transpiration is the process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves into the atmosphere. It is similar to evaporation but specifically refers to plants.

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#### 5. When water is heated in an ocean, the liquid water changes form and turns into ____________.
- Answer: Water Vapor
- Explanation: When water is heated (e.g., by the sun), it changes from a liquid to a gas (water vapor) through the process of evaporation.

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#### 6. When water leaves a body of water after it is heated, the process is called ____________.
- Answer: Evaporation
- Explanation: Evaporation is the process by which liquid water turns into water vapor and enters the atmosphere. This happens when water is heated, such as by the sun.

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#### 7. When water falls from the sky, the process is known as ____________.
- Answer: Precipitation
- Explanation: Precipitation occurs when water droplets in clouds become too heavy and fall to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

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#### 8. When water hits land and is soaked into the ground, the water becomes ____________.
- Answer: Groundwater
- Explanation: When water seeps into the soil and collects underground, it becomes groundwater. This is an important source of water for wells and aquifers.

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#### 9. True or False: The water cycle is a continual process.
- Answer: True
- Explanation: The water cycle is indeed a continual process. Water continuously moves through different states (liquid, vapor, solid) and locations (oceans, atmosphere, land) in a repeating cycle.

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#### 10. True or False: Transpiration is a process that occurs on plants and animals.
- Answer: False
- Explanation: Transpiration specifically occurs in plants. It is the process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves. Animals do not undergo transpiration; they lose water through other processes like sweating or breathing.

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Final Answer:

1. Hydrologic Cycle
2. Condensation
3. Runoff
4. Transpiration
5. Water Vapor
6. Evaporation
7. Precipitation
8. Groundwater
9. True
10. False

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
1. \text{Hydrologic Cycle} \\
2. \text{Condensation} \\
3. \text{Runoff} \\
4. \text{Transpiration} \\
5. \text{Water Vapor} \\
6. \text{Evaporation} \\
7. \text{Precipitation} \\
8. \text{Groundwater} \\
9. \text{True} \\
10. \text{False}
\end{array}
}