---
title: "Evaporation and condensation"
description: "Use evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, transpiration, water vapour, runoff and groundwater to describe water changing form and moving along different paths in the water cycle"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/evaporation-and-condensation-mt_zCGwH1OQZa
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/evaporation-and-condensation-mt_zCGwH1OQZa.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Evaporation and condensation

Use evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, transpiration, water vapour, runoff and groundwater to describe water changing form and moving along different paths in the water cycle

Subject: Science · Area: Earth's Systems · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/evaporation-and-condensation-mt_zCGwH1OQZa

## Ready when they can

- Describe a common water-cycle path using evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection in a sensible order
- Distinguish 'evaporation' from 'condensation' and explain where each occurs in the water cycle
- Use 'water vapour' and 'precipitation' correctly in descriptions of weather and the water cycle

## Lesson: The water cycle: evaporation and condensation

Water moves between land, oceans and air in the water cycle. It can be liquid water, solid ice or an invisible gas called water vapour. Water follows different paths. This lesson shows one common path and some other ways it can move.

*(drawing: Read this path from left to right. After collection, water can evaporate again. Water can also follow other paths.)*

Evaporation changes liquid water into water vapour. Sunlight often helps by warming water, but direct sunshine is not required. Condensation changes water vapour into liquid drops. Cooling air can cause condensation near the ground or high in the sky. Dew is liquid drops on a surface.

Water vapour is invisible gas. A visible cloud contains tiny liquid drops, solid ice crystals or both. Rain, snow, sleet and hail falling from clouds are precipitation. Water can then collect in rivers, lakes or oceans. Collection stores water until it moves again.

Runoff is water flowing over the ground. Groundwater is water stored in spaces in rock below ground; it can move through connected spaces. Plants take up water through roots. They release water vapour through leaves, a process called transpiration.

Fog contains tiny liquid drops in air near the ground. It is not invisible water vapour. A dry spell in one town does not stop Earth's water cycle. Water can still evaporate there while condensation or precipitation happens elsewhere.

**Recap.** Evaporation makes vapour; condensation makes liquid drops. Precipitation falls from clouds. Water collects, flows underground or passes through plants.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Opens up

- [Climates around the world](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/climates-around-the-world-mt_Gm12BzcCfX)
- [How Earth systems interact](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/how-earth-systems-interact-mt_LKagN9GJPX)
- [Graphing seasonal weather data](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/graphing-seasonal-weather-data-mt_NYsz6QgaaE)