The water cycle: Practice Questions

Which process in the water cycle involves the release of water vapour from the leaves of plants into the atmosphere?

A beaker of ethanol is heated until it reaches its boiling point of \(78^\circ\text{C}\). As the ethanol turns into gas, what is the status of its energy and temperature?

If the global average temperature continues to increase, how would this likely affect the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere and the general pattern of precipitation, based on the principles of the water cycle?

Which of the following statements about the boiling of water is correct?

A sample of liquid lead is cooled in a laboratory until it turns into solid lead. Which description is accurate for the lead during the freezing process?

When liquid water absorbs heat and changes into gaseous water vapour below the boiling point, what is the name of this slow surface process?

During the process of condensation in the water cycle, does water absorb or release energy? Briefly explain your answer.

During the formation of ice crystals in the atmosphere as part of the water cycle, describe the change in the arrangement and energy of the water particles while the temperature remains constant at \(0^\circ\text{C}\).

When you see ice melting into liquid water, is energy being absorbed from the surroundings or released into the surroundings by the ice? Explain your answer in terms of the energy involved in phase changes during the water cycle.

A group of students recorded the temperature of a beaker of crushed ice as it was heated over a Bunsen burner. They plotted their results on a temperature-time graph.

(a) Describe the shape of the graph during the period when the ice is melting. (1 point)
(b) Explain why the temperature behaves this way during the melting process in terms of energy. (2 points)
(c) Once all the ice has turned to liquid and the temperature reaches \(100^\circ\text{C}\), what happens to the temperature reading as the water continues to boil? (1 point)