In the water cycle, which process describes water turning into vapor from a surface?

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

Answer: (C)

Evaporation is the change from liquid water to water vapor that happens at a surface. When surface water absorbs heat, some molecules gain enough energy to break free and enter the air as vapor, which is why puddles, lakes, or moist surfaces gradually lose water even without being heated to boiling. This process is driven by heat, surface area, wind, and humidity—more heat and a larger surface area speed it up, while higher humidity slows the rate because the air holds less additional vapor. Condensation would be vapor turning into liquid, precipitation is water falling from the sky, and transpiration is water vapor released by plants. So the scenario described—water turning into vapor from a surface—fits evaporation best.