How is the sun the major source of energy in the water cycle? Group of answer choices It provides the energy to condense atmospheric water vapor into rain. It provides the energy to create winds that blow air masses across the Earth. It provides the energy to evaporate water on Earth into the atmosphere. It provides the energy needed for water to be transported downhill from mountains to rivers and oceans.

Question

Chemistry

Justine Beck

2 November, 15:21

How is the sun the major source of energy in the water cycle? Group of answer choices It provides the energy to condense atmospheric water vapor into rain. It provides the energy to create winds that blow air masses across the Earth. It provides the energy to evaporate water on Earth into the atmosphere. It provides the energy needed for water to be transported downhill from mountains to rivers and oceans.

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Kenyon Macias · Answer 1

The sun is the major source of energy in the water cycle because it provides the energy to evaporate water on Earth into the atmosphere.

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

Water cycle is the step by step procedure of transfer of sea water into clouds and from there to returning as rain water. So the starting of any process requires an external unbalanced energy as per first laws of motion from Newton. So in this case also, the starting of the change in the state of water from liquid to gas state is led by the Sun.

As the temperature of water will be less compared to the heat energy given by Sun, so the heat energy will convert as thermal energy for the surface water molecules of all water bodies. And that thermal energy will be sufficient to break the bonds and evaporate the surface water molecules from the water bodies to atmosphere. Thus, Sun forms the major energy source in the water cycle.