Question 1

What is precipitation?

Accepted Answer

Precipitation is when water falls from the sky in forms like rain, snow, or hail. It's how clouds release the water they've collected.

Question 2

How do clouds form?

Accepted Answer

Clouds form when water vapor in the air cools and turns back into tiny drops of water or ice. These tiny drops come together to make clouds.

Question 3

Why does it rain?

Accepted Answer

It rains when clouds become full of water droplets and they join together to become heavier. When they get too heavy, they fall to the ground as rain.

Question 4

What happens to rain after it falls?

Accepted Answer

After rain falls, it can soak into the ground, be taken up by plants, or flow into streams and rivers. Some rainwater may also evaporate back into the air.

Question 5

What is evaporation?

Accepted Answer

Evaporation is when water changes from a liquid to a gas and rises into the air. This happens when the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, or oceans.

Question 6

What is a water cycle?

Accepted Answer

The water cycle is the process of water moving from the sky to the ground and back again. It includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Question 7

Why do rivers flow into the ocean?

Accepted Answer

Rivers flow into the ocean because they move downhill, and the ocean is at a very low point. Gravity pulls the water from higher places to lower places.

Question 8

How do plants use rainwater?

Accepted Answer

Plants soak up rainwater through their roots. They use it to grow and make food through a process called photosynthesis, which also helps them stay healthy.

Question 9

What is groundwater?

Accepted Answer

Groundwater is the water that fills tiny cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock. People can use it by digging wells to bring the water to the surface.

Question 10

Can water be in the air?

Accepted Answer

Yes, water can be in the air as water vapor, which we don't see. It comes from evaporation and forms clouds when it cools and turns back into liquid.

Question 11

What is condensation?

Accepted Answer

Condensation is when water vapor in the air cools down and changes back into liquid drops of water. This is what makes clouds and fog.

Question 12

What happens to water when it reaches the ocean?

Accepted Answer

Once water reaches the ocean, it can stay there a long time, become salty, and eventually evaporate to start the water cycle again. Oceans are like big storage places for water.

Question 13

Is all rainwater clean?

Accepted Answer

Rainwater is usually clean when it falls, but it can pick up dirt and other things from the air or ground. This is why sometimes we need to clean the water before using it.

Question 14

Why is the ocean salty?

Accepted Answer

The ocean is salty because rivers carry small amounts of salt and minerals from the ground into the ocean. Over a long time, this has made the ocean salty.

Question 15

Can rain turn into snow or hail?

Accepted Answer

Yes, rain can turn into snow or hail if the temperature is cold enough. Snow forms when it's freezing, and hail forms when rain gets pushed up into really cold parts of the atmosphere.

Question 16

Do all clouds make rain?

Accepted Answer

Not all clouds make rain; some just float by. Rain clouds, like nimbus clouds, are thicker and darker because they're full of water.

Question 17

Why don't rivers ever run out of water?

Accepted Answer

Rivers usually don't run out of water because they're constantly being fed by rain, snow, groundwater, and melting ice. This keeps them flowing.

Question 18

What role does the sun play in the water cycle?

Accepted Answer

The sun gives energy that heats up the water in lakes and oceans, causing evaporation. This is the start of the water cycle.

Question 19

Can we drink water straight from rivers or lakes?

Accepted Answer

It's not always safe to drink water straight from rivers or lakes because it can have germs or dirt. It's best to clean the water first.

Question 20

What is a watershed?

Accepted Answer

A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into the same river, lake, or ocean. It's like a big bowl that collects rain and streams.

The Journey of Water: From Precipitation to the Ocean - 20 FAQs Explained Simply