Identify the changes that occur during each process.

● Evaporation- (how do the states of matter change?)

● Condensation- (how do the states of matter change?)

● Precipitation-

● Runoff-

● Transpiration-

1 answer

Sure! Here’s a breakdown of the changes for each process you’ve listed, focusing on how they affect the states of matter:

Evaporation

  • Process: Evaporation is the process by which liquid water turns into water vapor (gas).
  • State Change: Liquid water (liquid) changes to water vapor (gas).
  • Energy Change: This process requires heat energy, which increases the kinetic energy of water molecules, allowing them to break free from the liquid state.

Condensation

  • Process: Condensation is the process by which water vapor cools and turns back into liquid water.
  • State Change: Water vapor (gas) changes to liquid water (liquid).
  • Energy Change: This process releases heat energy as the molecules lose kinetic energy and come together to form a liquid.

Precipitation

  • Process: Precipitation occurs when condensed water vapor in clouds becomes heavy enough to fall to the ground, typically in forms such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
  • State Change: Water vapor (gas) changes to liquid water (liquid) or solid ice (solid), depending on temperature conditions.
  • Energy Change: This involves the processes of condensation and further cooling, where energy may be lost or gained depending on the type of precipitation.

Runoff

  • Process: Runoff is the movement of water on the ground surface when it cannot infiltrate into the soil. It typically occurs after precipitation.
  • State Change: There is no significant change of state in runoff; it usually involves liquid water (liquid) moving across land.
  • Energy Change: Energy is usually not significantly involved in state changes but can include the kinetic energy of flowing water.

Transpiration

  • Process: Transpiration is the process by which water is absorbed by plants from the soil and then evaporates from the surface of leaves into the atmosphere.
  • State Change: Liquid water (liquid) within the plant changes to water vapor (gas) as it exits through tiny pores (stomata).
  • Energy Change: This process, like evaporation, requires heat energy to convert liquid into gas.

Overall, these processes describe important components of the water cycle, illustrating transitions between different states of matter and energy transformations.