Test Date:__________________________________________________________
Weather & Matter Visual Study Guide
Precipitation:
Part of the Water Cycle. When the
clouds get too heavy for the air to hold
and rain, hail, or snow falls back to
earth. (4 forms depending on
temperature)
Rain:
A kind of precipitation. Liquid water
falling from the sky.
Ice (hail or sleet):
A kind of precipitation. Frozen water
which can be in the form of hail or
sleet.
hail
sleet
Snow:
A kind of precipitation. Frozen water
or frozen flakes falling from the sky.
Evaporation:
Part of the Water Cycle. When the sun
heats water, it turns into water vapor.
Change of liquid to gas.
Condensation:
Part of the Water Cycle. When water
vapor gets cold and changes into liquid
water droplets (forms clouds). Change
from gas to liquid.
Collection:
Part of the Water Cycle. When the
water returns to a body of water or
soaks into the land.
Cumulus clouds:
High in the sky, large, puffy clouds that
change shape and size. Looks like
cauliflower or cotton candy. Fair
weather.
Stratus clouds:
A cloud that is low in the sky and flat.
It covers the sky like a wide, gray
blanket. Brings precipitation.
Cirrus clouds:
Clouds high in the sky that looks like a
horse’s tail. Wispy and feathery. Fair
weather.
Drought:
A time when there is little or no rain.
Blizzards:
A time when there is a lot of wind,
large amounts of snow, and low
temperatures.
Tornados:
Violent wind storm with strong winds
that spin. Has a long funnel.
Hurricanes
Storm with heavy rains and wind.
They form over warm oceans and
move to the land.
Flood:
When lots of rain falls. There is so
much water that it overflows onto
land. The land cannot soak up
anymore water.
Thermometer:
Instrument used to tell the
temperature of the air. Measured in
degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Rain gauge:
An instrument used to tell the amount
of rain (precipitation) that has fallen.
Liquids are measured in volume.
Weather Vane:
Measures the direction the wind is
blowing from.
Thunderstorm:
A dangerous storm with heavy rain,
strong winds, thunder and lightning.
Water Cycle:
The process that water goes through:
Evaporation, condensation,
precipitation, collection.
Anemometer
Measures speed of wind.
Barometer
Measures air pressure.
Three States of Matter
Solid, Liquid & Gas
Liquids are measured in volume.
Solids are measured in mass.
Physical Changes of Matter
When matter changes size, shape or
form. This change CAN be reversed.
Chemical Changes of Matter
When matter changes and becomes
different. Chemical changes CANNOT
be reversed.
Erosion
Wearing away of land from different
forms of weather including wind and
water).