Which stage of the water cycle involves water falling as rain, snow, or hail?

Which stage of the water cycle involves water falling as rain, snow, or hail?

• A. Precipitation
• B. Evaporation
• C. Condensation
• D. Collection

Answer: (A)

Precipitation is the stage where water falls from the atmosphere to Earth as rain, snow, or hail. After evaporation lifts water into the air and condensation forms clouds, the droplets in those clouds grow until gravity pulls them down. That downward movement is precipitation. Once it reaches the ground, water collects in bodies of water or soaks into the soil to continue the cycle. Evaporation is the change to vapor, condensation is vapor turning into clouds, and collection is the water gathering on the surface after precipitation.

Precipitation is the stage where water falls from the atmosphere to Earth as rain, snow, or hail. After evaporation lifts water into the air and condensation forms clouds, the droplets in those clouds grow until gravity pulls them down. That downward movement is precipitation. Once it reaches the ground, water collects in bodies of water or soaks into the soil to continue the cycle. Evaporation is the change to vapor, condensation is vapor turning into clouds, and collection is the water gathering on the surface after precipitation.