Final answer:
Puddles disappear primarily due to evaporation, a process where the sun's energy heats the water and causes it to change into water vapor. Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disappearance or drying up of puddles finds its primary cause in the natural phenomenon of evaporation. This essential process unfolds as water present on the Earth's surface undergoes a transformative journey into water vapor. When the sun imparts its warmth to the water accumulated in puddles, it serves as the catalyst, supplying the requisite energy for water molecules to undergo a transition, escaping into the atmosphere in the form of vapor.
While external factors such as sunlight, wind, and the absorption of water into the ground contribute to the overall dynamics, it is evaporation that takes center stage as the predominant mechanism orchestrating the drying of puddles. The sun's radiant energy, absorbed by the water, propels individual water molecules to break free from the liquid state, ascending into the air as invisible vapor.
Understanding the intricate dance of evaporation elucidates the fundamental process through which puddles, emblematic of transient water accumulation, cease to exist. It highlights the cyclical and interconnected nature of Earth's hydrological system, where solar energy assumes a pivotal role in transforming surface water into the invisible, yet indispensable, gaseous state.