The Water Cycle

"Dad," Tommy continued, "I've always wondered where all this water comes from. How does it get here?"

"Well Tommy, I'm going to explain it to you how my father did to me as a child. Through the story of the water cycle."

"Well son, water goes through something called the water cycle and through this cycle there are five different processes that it goes though. These processes include evaporation, sublimation, transpiration, condensation, and runoff."

"One step of the water cycle is evaporation. During this process, water from large bodies of water turns into water vapor. This water vapor is also known as a gas," Dad mentioned.

"How cool!" Timmy added.

"Another step in the water cycle includes sublimation, which is the transfer from a solid to a gas," Tommy's dad continued, "An example of this would be dry ice, it shows how an object can change state of matters."

"In the water cycle there is also a process called transpiration. Transpiration is special for just plants."

"Why is that Dad?" Tommy Asked.

"It's because it's similar to evaporation but there needed to be a term for just plants. Water is taken directly from the plant and evaporates, turning from a liquid to a gas." Tommy's father told him.

"Hey Tommy, look at this glass."

"What's all over it?" Tommy asked.

"It's called condensation, it is when a gas changes to a solid."

"But what does this have to do with the water cycle?"

"It is another step in the water cycle." Tommy's dad told him.

"Why'd you bring me here Dad?"

"Well it's another example of the water cycle, it's called a runoff," Tommy's father told him. "It happens when a smaller body of water travels to a bigger body of water through something like a stream or a river."

"But Dad, I just don't understand why all of this matters," Tommy claimed.

"Well son, the water cycle matters because water is essential for all life on Earth, it helps to regulate all cycles."

"Thank you for teaching me science Dad!" Tommy told his dad with excitement.

The phosphorus cycle

"Dad, how do trees grow?" Sarah asked.

"Well Sarah, all plants need something called phosphorus. Phosphorus keeps the soil healthy so plants can grow properly."

"You see Sarah, phosphorus enters the soil via weathering,, and the plants take in these phosphorus particles and the plants grow!" Sarah's Father told her. This is also known as mineralization.

He continued, "Next, phosphate, which is the substance taken from phosphorus, is eaten by herbivores such as cows or rabbits."

"Afterwards, those herbivores are unfortunately eaten by carnivores and the phosphate is transferred to the carnivores."

"That's pretty cool," exclaimed Sarah.

Sarah's Dad continued, "Then the phosphorus is returned back to the soil via excretion or when the carnivores die. Then the phosphorus goes through these same steps forever!"

"I can't believe how effective phosphorus is." Sarah said.

"And that's the phosphorus cycle Sarah. The phosphorus cycle is essential to life because it gives life to plants and is also a crucial part of the body's energy. Without phosphorus, the earth would have no energy!" Sarah's Dad told her.

"Thank you so much for teaching me Dad!" Sarah said excitingly to her father.

The Carbon Cycle

"Mom, today at school we talked about the carbon cycle, but I don't think I fully understand it. Can you help me?" Samantha asked her mother.

"Sure thing!" Samantha's mother said, "Well the carbon cycle is the process that which carbon is exchanged throughout the atmosphere, carbon gets recycled."

"One process of the carbon cycle is known as cellular respiration. During this process humans and other animals breath in oxygen and release carbon dioxide as a result, into the atmosphere." Samantha's mother told Samantha.

"Why are we here Mom? What do plants and flowers have to do with the carbon cycle?" Samantha asked her mother.

"Well Samantha, plants go through something called photosynthesis, this is when plants make their own food and energy through sunlight and carbon that they receive from humans. Afterward they release oxygen," Said Samantha's mother.

"Mom, I don't like it here, it's scary," Samantha said shakily.

"This place is apart of the carbon cycle!" She said very excited, "when organisms die, they release carbon into the atmosphere."

"Boy oh boy do those look good!"

"Samantha, do you see what is under the food?" She asked, "there is coal under the food. When burning fossil fuels, carbon gets released into the atmosphere around us."

"Wow , it's beautiful here," Samantha exclaimed.

"Just another part of the carbon cycle, Samantha! In this waterfall, sedimentation is taking place. In this sediment, there is carbon, which gets absorbed into the body of water that it is in."

"Mom it's kind of scary here."

"Don't worry, we will be okay." Samantha's mom ensured her, "Volcanoes erupting is just another way of carbon being released into the atmosphere."

"This is a cool wall!" Samantha said.

"It's made of limestone. But did you know when limestone gets heated, carbon is released into the atmosphere? Which is why it's another step in the carbon cycle."