The Water Cycle

The water cycle is how water moves between the ground, the sky, and back again — forever, in a big loop.

First, the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and it evaporates — turning from liquid into invisible water vapor that rises into the sky.

Up high, the vapor cools down and forms tiny water droplets, which clump together to make clouds. This is called condensation.

When clouds get heavy enough, the water falls back down as rain (or snow, if it's cold enough) — this is precipitation. Then the whole cycle starts again!