Think about a drop of water in the ocean. If it were to go through the whole hydrologic cycle, number the steps that would follow.

Question

1. Step 1
The groundwater flows into a river which empties back into the ocean.
2. Step 2
The atmosphere is cooler, so the drop of water would change from a gas back to a liquid through condensation.
3. Step 3
The drop of water falls to the ground as rain and is absorbed as groundwater.
4. Step 4
Evaporation would change the drop of water to water vapor, a gas, which would rise into the atmosphere.
5. Step 5
As more water vapor condenses into liquid, the drop of water will eventually drop to Earth's surface as precipitation.

Answer 1

The correct sequence of steps for a drop of water going through the hydrologic cycle is as follows:

1. Step 4
   Evaporation would change the drop of water to water vapor, a gas, which would rise into the atmosphere.

2. Step 2
   The atmosphere is cooler, so the drop of water would change from a gas back to a liquid through condensation.

3. Step 5
   As more water vapor condenses into liquid, the drop of water will eventually drop to Earth's surface as precipitation.

4. Step 3
   The drop of water falls to the ground as rain and is absorbed as groundwater.

5. Step 1
   The groundwater flows into a river which empties back into the ocean.

So the numbered order of the steps is: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1.