The Water Cycle
The sun heats up the water on the ground. The water becomes so hot it goes from liquid form to gas form, called water vapor. The vapor rises into the atmosphere because hot gas rises. This step is called evaporation. It is the first step because it takes water from earth and puts it back in the water cycle.
Condensation
The temperature high in the sky is colder than the temperature on the ground. The colder temperature turns the water vapor back into liquid water droplets. This is called condensation.
Precipitation
Water falls back to earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. This step is called precipitation.
Collection
The water that is on earth after precipitation flows to a final resting place. There it waits for the sun to heat it up. This final step is called collection.