Final answer:
The process by which water seeps into the soil, regolith, or rock material to become groundwater is called infiltration during the hydrologic cycle. This plays an important role in replenishing groundwater reserves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which water seeps into the soil, regolith, or rock material to become groundwater is called infiltration.
During the hydrologic cycle, water from the land and oceans enters the atmosphere by evaporation or sublimation, condenses into clouds, and falls as rain or snow. Some of this precipitated water may infiltrate the soil, moving through the pores or spaces between particles in the soil or rock material. This water then becomes groundwater, which can flow slowly through the ground or be stored in underground aquifers.
Example: Imagine it's raining heavily outside. As the rain falls onto the ground, some of it soaks into the soil, seeping deeper and deeper until it reaches a layer of rock or an aquifer. This process of water seeping into the soil is known as infiltration, and it plays an important role in replenishing groundwater reserves.