How does the Water Cycle work?

Water molecules from lakes, rivers, streams,

reservoirs, and the ocean get heated by the sun
and turn into vapor that rises into the air.
[evaporation]

Plants are heated by the sun, too, and send water

molecules into the air through their leaves.
[transpiration]

These water molecules form into clouds.

When the air and the water cool, they form drops
of water that fall to the earth as rain. If they
are frozen, they become snow or sleet.
[condensation] The vapor has changed into a liquid.

Once the water reaches the ground, it can flow

across the land until it reaches rivers, lakes,
streams, or the ocean. This is surface water. It
can also sink into the ground and flow with gravity
through gaps in rock, gravel, and sand until it
reaches these bodies of water, too. This is
groundwater.

The cycle begins again.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04apr/00222/cycle.htm