Answer:
The water cycle involves the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. In the cycle, water can exist in three states: liquid, solid, and gas. During evaporation, liquid water changes into water vapor, the gaseous state of water, as it heats up and turns into steam. When water vapor cools, it can condense back into liquid form, such as when it forms clouds. Precipitation, such as rain or snow, occurs when water droplets in the clouds become heavy enough to fall from the sky. When precipitation reaches the ground, some of it may flow into rivers and streams and eventually make its way to the ocean. Some of it may also be taken up by plants or seep into the ground, becoming part of the groundwater system. Eventually, the water in the groundwater system may evaporate back into water vapor and start the cycle over again.