Final answer:
True, The water cycle redistributes water in different forms across the Earth's surface and through living organisms but does not change the overall amount of water on the planet. The volume of Earth's water remains constant over time, despite the continuous movement through various processes in the water cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that water cycles through the environment and also through the bodies of living things, but the amount of water on the planet remains the same, is true. The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, involves the constant movement of water through various pathways and states.
Water moves between living organisms and non-living components, such as clouds, rivers, and oceans, but the total volume of Earth's water stays constant. This cycle involves processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and transpiration.
Despite the dynamic nature of these processes, the water cycle does not create or destroy water but rather redistributes it across different reservoirs such as glaciers, groundwater, and surface waters like lakes and rivers.
Earth's water is ancient, and while it undergoes continuous movement and change in state, the overall amount of water on Earth does not change.
It's important to recognize that the majority of Earth's water is saltwater, with 97.5% being in the oceans. Of the remaining freshwater, most are trapped underground or in ice, leaving less than 1% readily accessible in lakes and rivers. This small percentage is crucial for life on Earth, and humans have developed techniques such as digging wells and desalination to meet freshwater demands.