The water cycle describes all of the changes that water undergoes as it moves through the Earth. The water cycle is powered by energy from the Sun. The steps in the water cycle are:
1. Evaporation: the Sun heats water on the Earth’s surface (in soil, rivers, lakes and seas). Liquid water turns into water vapour, which rises upwards.
2. Condensation: the water vapour cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds.
3. Precipitation: as water adds to the clouds, they get heavier (more dense) and eventually water falls back to the Earth as rain or snow.
4. Water flow: liquid water collects in soil, rivers, lakes and seas and the cycle begins again.
