Question

What force causes precipitation to fall to the ground and causes water to flow downhill as runoff?

Answer 1

The force that causes precipitation to fall to the ground and water to flow downhill as runoff is gravity. Gravity pulls objects toward the Earth, causing rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation to fall from clouds to the surface. Similarly, when water collects on the ground, gravity causes it to flow downhill, following the path of least resistance, which is often influenced by the terrain's slope and contours.