KS2 Water Cycle Quiz: Explore Evaporation and Precipitation

Science Quiz - The Water Cycle (Questions)

Discover the wonders of the water cycle with this engaging KS2 Science quiz! Learn about the cool processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and surface runoff.

Did you know only 3% of Earth's water is fresh, and most is icy? Luckily, the small bit we drink and share with plants and animals is always recycled. Water turns into vapour from the sea (evaporation), forms clouds through condensation, and then falls as rain (precipitation). It travels downhill, joins rivers, and goes back to the sea, starting the cycle again!

What's another name for precipitation? Where does most water evaporation happen? Test your science skills with this Water Cycle quiz!

Boost Your Child's Confidence with Quizzes

What do we call fresh water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface?

[ ]	Condensation
[ ]	Precipitation
[ ]	Evaporation
[ ]	Transpiration

Some of the water from rain, hail, sleet or snow collects in streams, rivers, lakes and the sea. Where does most of the rest of the water go?

[ ]	Storage tanks
[ ]	Reservoirs
[ ]	Into the ground
[ ]	In gutters

Plants draw water out of the ground and release water vapour into the atmosphere. What is this process known as?

[ ]	Transpiration
[ ]	Evaporation
[ ]	Condensation
[ ]	Precipitation

Water on the surface of roads and pavements disappears over time. What has happened to the water?

[ ]	It has precipitated
[ ]	It has condensed
[ ]	It has evaporated
[ ]	It has stopped existing

What happens to water vapour when it cools?

[ ]	It evaporates
[ ]	It precipitates
[ ]	It transpires
[ ]	It condenses

Which of these is condensation in the atmosphere?

[ ]	Tornadoes
[ ]	Clouds
[ ]	Lightning
[ ]	Hurricanes

What do we call water that is in a solid state?

[ ]	Liquid
[ ]	Water vapour
[ ]	Ice
[ ]	None of the above

What do we call water that is in the form of a gas?

[ ]	Liquid
[ ]	Water vapour
[ ]	Ice
[ ]	None of the above

When a kettle is boiling, it produces visible steam. What does this steam contain?

[ ]	Gas and liquid water
[ ]	Water as a solid and a gas
[ ]	Water in its liquid and solid forms
[ ]	Water as gas, liquid and solid

10.

What stage of the water cycle directly follows water's condensation in the atmosphere?

[ ]	Evaporation
[ ]	Transpiration
[ ]	Precipitation
[ ]	None of the above

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - The water cycle

Science Quiz - The Water Cycle (Answers)

What do we call fresh water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface?

[ ]	Condensation
[x]	Precipitation
[ ]	Evaporation
[ ]	Transpiration

Fresh water can fall as rain, hail, sleet or snow

Some of the water from rain, hail, sleet or snow collects in streams, rivers, lakes and the sea. Where does most of the rest of the water go?

[ ]	Storage tanks
[ ]	Reservoirs
[x]	Into the ground
[ ]	In gutters

Groundwater is stored in soil and in underground layers of sand and permeable stone known as aquifers

Plants draw water out of the ground and release water vapour into the atmosphere. What is this process known as?

[x]	Transpiration
[ ]	Evaporation
[ ]	Condensation
[ ]	Precipitation

Plants release water vapour through tiny pores (holes) in their leaves - these pores are called 'stomata'

Water on the surface of roads and pavements disappears over time. What has happened to the water?

[ ]	It has precipitated
[ ]	It has condensed
[x]	It has evaporated
[ ]	It has stopped existing

Surface water evaporates and returns to the atmosphere as water vapour

What happens to water vapour when it cools?

[ ]	It evaporates
[ ]	It precipitates
[ ]	It transpires
[x]	It condenses

You can see water condensation after you've had a shower - the water vapour in the air condenses as it cools down, leaving water droplets on the walls, windows and bathroom mirror

Which of these is condensation in the atmosphere?

[ ]	Tornadoes
[x]	Clouds
[ ]	Lightning
[ ]	Hurricanes

That's why some clouds bring rain - the water vapour condenses and then falls to earth

What do we call water that is in a solid state?

[ ]	Liquid
[ ]	Water vapour
[x]	Ice
[ ]	None of the above

Water freezes and becomes a solid (ice) at 0^o Celsius

What do we call water that is in the form of a gas?

[ ]	Liquid
[x]	Water vapour
[ ]	Ice
[ ]	None of the above

Another name for water vapour is steam

When a kettle is boiling, it produces visible steam. What does this steam contain?

[x]	Gas and liquid water
[ ]	Water as a solid and a gas
[ ]	Water in its liquid and solid forms
[ ]	Water as gas, liquid and solid

Steam is invisible water vapour (gas). When we see steam from a kettle or shower, the steam also contains tiny water droplets (liquid), making it visible

10.

What stage of the water cycle directly follows water's condensation in the atmosphere?

[ ]	Evaporation
[ ]	Transpiration
[x]	Precipitation
[ ]	None of the above

Precipitation follows condensation - and the whole water cycle begins again!