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Summaries · Grade 4 Natural Sciences › The water cycle
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The water cycle

How water moves round and round through evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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The cycle

1 Evaporation2 Condensation: clouds3 Precipitation4 Run-off to the seaSunSea
The water goes round and round: it is a cycle.
  • Hail forms when droplets freeze high in a cold cloud.
  • It is colder high up, where clouds form, because the air is thinner.
  • The water is saltiest in the sea.
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The cycle around us

  • A wet road dries quickly when the sun comes out: the heat evaporates the water.
  • A bathroom mirror fogs up: steam condenses on the cold glass.
  • In South Africa precipitation falls mostly as rain.
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Drought and dams

During a drought too little precipitation falls. Dams are built across rivers to store water for dry times. Save water: take short showers instead of baths.

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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • The Sun supplies the energy that drives the water cycle.
  • Evaporation: water becomes water vapour (mostly from the oceans).
  • Condensation: water vapour cools and forms clouds.
  • Precipitation: rain, hail or snow falls. Run-off flows to rivers and the sea; infiltration soaks into the soil.
  • No water is lost: it is used again and again.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

E-C-P-R: Evaporate up, Condense into clouds, Precipitation falls, Run-off back to sea. Then all over again!

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

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