Final answer:
The water cycle consists of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation, which perpetually recycles water through the Earth's atmosphere and surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The water cycle is a continuous movement of water within the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The cycle is driven by solar energy and includes several key steps:
- Evaporation: Solar heat causes the transition of water from liquid to vapor, mostly from the ocean.
- Transpiration: Plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.
- Condensation: Water vapor rises and cools, forming clouds as liquid or frozen droplets.
- Precipitation: Water returns to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Infiltration: Some of the water seeps into the ground, recharging aquifers and becoming groundwater.
- Runoff: Water that does not infiltrate the ground flows over the land and returns to bodies of water.
This cycle does not have a beginning or an end but is a perpetual, natural process that recycles water in various forms.