Tides and the Moon

What You'll Learn

The water cycle describes how water moves through Earth's systems. Water evaporates from oceans, condenses into clouds, falls as precipitation, and flows back to the ocean.

Key Words

natural resource
conservation

Materials Needed

thermometer
rain gauge
cotton balls

Safety First

Do not look directly at the sun or bright lights.
Clean up spills immediately to prevent slipping.
Use materials only as directed in the experiment.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on The Water Cycle before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Create a model of the water cycle in a bowl: place warm water in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, put ice on top, and observe condensation and precipitation.

Step 3 — Observe

Compare the before and after states.

Step 4 — Record

Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is erosion?