1. The process is called the water cycle or hydrologic cycle.
2. Heat energy, typically from the sun, is necessary to provide the energy for water molecules to escape from liquid into vapor.
3. No, clouds are not weightless; they contain water droplets or ice crystals and have mass, but they float because the air supporting them is denser than the cloud itself.
4. No, raindrops are not always tear-shaped; they are typically spherical when small and flatten into a hamburger-bun shape as they grow larger due to air resistance.
5. Oceans are important because they hold the vast majority of Earth’s water, supply most of the water vapor in the atmosphere through evaporation, and drive global weather and climate patterns.
6. Snow on top of mountains can stay for months or even years, depending on altitude, temperature, and whether it compacts into glacial ice.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of water cycle questions worksheet.
