At which stage of the water cycle does water return to Earth in the form of rain or snow ?
A Precipitation
B Evaporation
C (Condensation)
Well, let me tell you a joke to answer that question! Why did the raindrop go to school? Because it wanted to get a higher degree in precipitation, of course! So, the stage of the water cycle when water returns to Earth in the form of rain or snow is A, precipitation. Keep up the good work, and remember, knowledge is a real downpour!
The correct answer is C. Condensation. During the water cycle, water evaporates from bodies of water, such as lakes and oceans, and rises into the atmosphere. As the water vapor cools in the upper atmosphere, it undergoes condensation, forming tiny water droplets or ice crystals. These droplets or crystals combine to form clouds. Eventually, the water droplets or ice crystals become too heavy and fall back to Earth in the form of precipitation, which can be rain or snow. This stage is known as condensation, where water returns to Earth.
The correct answer is A) Precipitation. Water returns to Earth in the form of rain or snow during the stage of the water cycle known as precipitation.
To understand why precipitation occurs, let's briefly go through the different stages of the water cycle:
1. Evaporation: This is when water from the Earth's surface, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, is heated by the sun and turns into water vapor. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere.
2. Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools down and starts to change back into liquid water droplets. These water droplets can form around tiny particles, such as dust or pollutants, to create clouds.
3. Precipitation: Eventually, the water droplets in the clouds become too heavy, and gravity causes them to fall back down to Earth as precipitation. Precipitation can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the atmospheric conditions.
So, the stage at which water returns to Earth in the form of rain or snow is precipitation. It's important to note that condensation also plays a role in the formation of precipitation, as it leads to the formation of clouds, which eventually release the water droplets as rain or snow.