Water molecule: ______

Date: ______

Where did the water you drank today come from?

Water Cycle Simulation

The movement of water, the water cycle, is often shown as a simple, circular cycle in which water evaporates from the ocean, is carried over land, falls as rain, and then is transported back to the ocean through rivers. The actual movement of water is more complex than that. This simulation is intended to demonstrate the complexities of the water cycle.

BRAINSTORM:

  • With your group think about all of the possible places where water exists. List them in the space below:

______

  • In your assigned group, determine the possible places that water can travel to and how does it get there?

Your station: ______

Possible destinations for water to go:

______

PROCEDURE:

  • You will represent a water molecule in this simulation.
  • Track your journey by marking your data table at the station where you begin.
  • Roll the die. At the signal, follow the movement instruction.
  • At the new station, mark your data table and roll the die. At the signal, follow the instruction.
  • Continue until instructed to stop.

DATA COLLECTION:

Animal / Clouds / Lake / Ocean / Plants
River / Soil / Glacier / Groundwater

ANALYSIS

  • Answer the following questions:

a) Which station did you visit the most often?

b) Which station did you visit the least often?

c) Create a bar graph to show your data. Attach graph paper.

d) Where do water cycle changes of state (solid, liquid, gas) occur?

e) Describe one way that pollution could affect the water cycle.

f) How does energy from the sun affect the movement of water?

g) Describe how the water cycle would be different in the summer and winter.

h) Water exists in the following proportions:

Oceans / Soil/
Groundwater / Ice / Lakes/
rivers / Atmosphere
Actual / 97% / 1.88% / 1.2% / 0.002% / 0.0006%
My results

Calculate the % of your time spent in each of the above locations. Does your data represent reality? Explain why or why not.

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