Water Cycle and Weathering

 

Water Cycle

 

Water cycle is driven by the ENERGY from the SUN

 

The Heat energy from the SUN warms up the water in oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds. The water particles gain energy and become more active. Those particles which gain lots of energy now can escape and rise up the atmosphere. They do this because they are less dense then the air. This is known as EVAPORATION.

As they rise up, they lose their energy to the surrounding, as it is cold up there. The water particles begin to huddle together into tiny water droplets to make clouds. This is known as CONDENSATION. Eventually the water droplets become so big that the gravity pulls them down and it rains. This is called PRECIPITATION.

 

 

Weathering

 

Weathering is the break down of rocks by natural forces.

 

There are three different types of weathering.

 

Physical

Chemical

Biological

 

🌧️ Knowledge Check: Water Cycle & Weathering

How well do you understand the processes that shape our planet? Answer the questions based on the webpage information.

1. Which process involves water vapour cooling down to form liquid water droplets in clouds?

• Evaporation
• Condensation
• Precipitation

2. Tree roots growing into cracks in a rock and forcing them apart is an example of which type of weathering?

• Physical weathering
• Chemical weathering
• Biological weathering

3. What happens to water when it freezes inside a crack in a rock?

• It shrinks and leaves a gap.
• It expands and puts pressure on the rock.
• It evaporates immediately.

4. Acid rain reacting with minerals like calcium carbonate in limestone is known as:

• Chemical weathering
• Freeze-thaw weathering
• Transpiration

5. What is the key difference between weathering and erosion?

• Weathering moves rocks; erosion breaks them.
• Weathering breaks rocks where they are; erosion moves the pieces away.
• There is no difference between them.

Check Answers

1. Condensation (Water vapour turning into liquid water).
2. Biological weathering (Caused by living things like plants and animals).
3. It expands (This expansion forces the crack to widen).
4. Chemical weathering (Rain water is naturally slightly acidic and reacts with certain minerals).
5. Weathering breaks rocks where they are; erosion moves them (Movement is the key identifier for erosion).

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