Earth: The Water Planet
Table of Contents
The Properties of Water
Water on Earth
Surface Water
Wetland Environments
Water Underground
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
The Structure of Water
The positive hydrogen ends of one water molecule attract the
negative oxygen ends of nearby water molecules. As a
result, the water molecules tend to stick together.
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
Changing State
Ice is solid water, the familiar form of water is a liquid, and
the water vapor in the air is a gas.
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
Changing State
Water moves between the liquid and gaseous states by
evaporation and condensation. Water moves between the
liquid and solid states by freezing and melting.
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
Building Vocabulary
A definition states the meaning of a word or phrase by telling
about its most important feature or function. After you read
the section, reread the paragraphs that contain definitions of
Key Terms. Use the information you have learned to write a
definition of each Key Term in your own words.
Key Terms:
polar molecule
solution
evaporation
capillary action
solvent
condensation
surface
specific tension
heat
Examples:
Evaporation
A
solution
molecule is
that
is
a mixture
the
hasprocess
electrically
that forms
by which
charged
when
molecules
areas
one is at
a the
polar molecule.
substance
surface
of adissolves
liquid absorb
another.
enough energy to change to
the
state.
Thegaseous
combined
force of attraction among water
The substance that does the dissolving is called the
molecules
and
theamolecules
of surrounding
The
process
bywith
which
gas changes
to a liquid is
solvent.
materials
is called capillary action.
called condensation.
Surface
is the
tightness
across
the surface
of
Specific tension
heat is the
amount
of heat
needed
to
water thatthe
is caused
by theofpolar
molecules
pulling
on
increase
temperature
a certain
mass of
a
one another.
substance
by 1ºC.
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
Links on Water Properties
Click the SciLinks button for links on water properties.
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
Universal Solvent
Click the Video button to watch a movie about
universal solvent.
Earth: The Water Planet - The Properties of Water
Changing State
Click the Video button to watch a movie about
changing state.
Earth: The Water Planet
End of Section:
Properties of
Water
Earth: The Water Planet - Water on Earth
Distribution of Earth’s Water
Most of Earth’s water–roughly 97 percent–is salt water found
in oceans.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water on Earth
Distribution of Earth’s Water
Only three percent of Earth’s water is fresh water.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water on Earth
The Water Cycle
In the water cycle, water moves from bodies of water, land,
and living things on Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and
back to Earth’s surface.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water on Earth
Water Cycle Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and
access Active Art about the water cycle.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water on Earth
Identifying Main Ideas
As you read the section “Distribution of Earth’s Water,” write
the main idea in a graphic organizer like the one below. Then
write four supporting details that further explain the main
idea.
Main Idea
Earth’s water is distributed among oceans, rivers and lakes, and groundwater.
Detail
Oceans in the form
of salt water, in
which 97 percent
of Earth’s water is
found.
Detail
Ice in the form of
icebergs near
the North Pole
and South Pole
Detail
Rivers and lakes,
which contain the
smallest amount of
fresh water on
Earth.
Detail
Groundwater,
which fills cracks
and spaces in
underground soil
and rock layers.
Earth: The Water Planet
End of Section:
Water on Earth
Earth: The Water Planet - Surface Water
River Systems
A river and all of its tributaries make up a river system.
Earth: The Water Planet - Surface Water
River Systems
The land area that supplies water to a river system is called a
watershed.
Earth: The Water Planet - Surface Water
Ponds and Lakes
Ponds and lakes are bodies of still fresh water. Ponds often
support a wide diversity of living things.
Earth: The Water Planet - Surface Water
How Lakes Can Change
In addition to seasonal changes, a lake can undergo longterm changes that may eventually lead to its death. These
long-term changes are called eutrophication.
Earth: The Water Planet - Surface Water
Outlining
As you read, make an outline
about this section. Use the
red headings for the main
ideas and the blue headings
for the supporting ideas.
Surface Water
I. River Systems
A. Tributaries
B. Watersheds
C. Divides
II. Ponds and Lakes
A. Exploring a Pond
B. Exploring a Lake
C. Lake Formation
III. How Lakes Can Change
A. Seasons Changes
B. Long-Term Changes
C. Death of a Body of Fresh
Water
Earth: The Water Planet - Surface Water
More on Surface Water
Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity
about surface water.
Earth: The Water Planet
End of Section:
Surface Water
Earth: The Water Planet - Wetland Environmentss
The Everglades: A Wetland
Water is the key to the
Everglades, a unique region of
grassy wetlands. The Everglades
is a shallow stream of water that
moves slowly over the land from
Lake Okeechobee south to Florida
Bay.
Earth: The Water Planet - Wetland Environmentss
The Everglades: A Wetland
A rich variety of living
things make their
homes in the
Everglades.
Earth: The Water Planet - Wetland Environmentss
Asking Questions
Before you read, preview the red headings. In a graphic
organizer like the one below, ask a what or how question for
each heading. As you read, write answers to your questions.
Question
Answer
What are the types of wetlands?
The three types of wetlands are
marshes, swamps, and bogs.
What is the Everglades?
The Everglades is a region of
wetlands stretching from Lake
Okeechobee south to Florida Bay.
How are wetlands important?
They provide habitats for
many living things and have
many functions useful to
people.
Earth: The Water Planet - Wetland Environmentss
Links on Wetlands
Click the SciLinks button for links on wetlands.
Earth: The Water Planet
End of Section:
Wetland
Environments
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
How Water Moves Underground
Water underground trickles down between particles of soil
and through cracks and spaces in layers of rock.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Uses of Water
The graph shows water use in
the United States. Each
category of water use is
represented by a different
wedge. Use the graph to answer
the questions below.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Uses of Water
Reading Graphs:
How many categories of
water use are shown on the
graph?
4
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Uses of Water
Interpreting Data:
The two largest categories of
water use combine to make
up what percentage of the
total water used in the United
States?
80.5%
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Uses of Water
Interpreting Data:
Which of the categories of
water use shown in the graph
represents the largest use of
water in the United States?
Which represents the
smallest?
Agriculture; industries and
mining
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Uses of Water
Predicting:
How would an increase in the
amount of farming affect this
graph?
The percentage for
agriculture would increase,
and the percentage for all the
other uses would decrease.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Uses of Water
Calculating:
If the total daily usage of
water in the United States is
1,280 billion liters, about how
many liters are used each day
by power plants?
About 495 billion liters
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Bringing Up Groundwater
People can obtain groundwater from an aquifer by drilling a
well below the water table. They may also obtain water
through pressure by digging an artesian well or from a
spring.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Previewing Visuals
Before you read, preview Figure 22. Then write two
questions you have about the diagram in a graphic organizer
like the one below. As you read, answer your questions.
Bringing Up Groundwater
Q. What is an artesian well?
A. It is a well in which water rises because of pressure within an aquifer.
Q. Where does the water that supplies a well come from?
A. Underground water comes from precipitation that trickles down
between particles of soil and through cracks and spaces in layers
of rock.
Earth: The Water Planet - Water Underground
Links on Water Underground
Click the SciLinks button for links on water underground.
Earth: The Water Planet
End of Section:
Water
Underground
Earth: The Water Planet
Graphic Organizer
Water evaporates.
Water
condenses to
form clouds.
Water runs
off into the
ocean.
Water falls to
Earth’s surface as
precipitation.
Earth: The Water Planet
End of Section:
Graphic Organizer