Here's a breakdown of the process:
* Evaporation: Liquid water absorbs heat energy, causing its molecules to move faster and break free from the liquid's surface, becoming water vapor (gas).
* Condensation: As the water vapor rises and cools, it loses heat energy, causing the molecules to slow down and come closer together. This results in the formation of tiny water droplets, which can then form clouds.
* Precipitation: When the water droplets in clouds become large enough, they fall back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
* Runoff: The water that falls to Earth flows over the surface of the land, eventually returning to lakes, rivers, and oceans.
This entire process is known as the water cycle and is crucial for maintaining life on Earth.
