Part of GED® Science: Earth & Space Science
GED® Science: Earth's Water & the Water Cycle (Deep Dive)
A deep dive into Earth's water, expanding the single 'Earth's Water & the Water Cycle' lesson from the GED® Earth & Space Science course into a full mini-course. You'll see where Earth's water really is (and why so little is usable), follow the full water cycle from the ocean to the clouds and back into the ground, and learn the physics of how water changes state and stores energy. You'll also explore clouds and precipitation, groundwater and aquifers, and why fresh water is a limited resource worth protecting. Plain language, all-new labeled diagrams, common-misconception warnings, and GED®-style practice with full explanations throughout.
📚 Course Curriculum
Earth is the 'blue planet': about 71% of its surface is covered by water. With that much water, it's tempting to think we'll never run …
Open trial session →Earth's water is always on the move, recycled endlessly through the water cycle. Two things power the loop: the Sun (which supplies the energy) and …
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The water cycle works because water easily changes between three states — solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor) — at the everyday temperatures …
Open trial session →Where do clouds actually come from? The key is rising air. When air near the warm ground rises, it expands and cools as it goes …
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Once precipitation reaches the ground, it goes two main ways: it runs off the surface, or it soaks in. Water that runs off flows downhill …
Open trial session →The water cycle isn't just nature's plumbing — it's where our drinking water, farms, and cities get their supply. And because usable fresh water is …
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Course Syllabus
This self-paced GED® Science course follows a 6-lesson sequence. Work through the modules in order so that each skill supports the next.
Course sequence
Module 1 - Lessons 1-3
- Earth's Water: Where It All Is
- The Water Cycle: The Big Loop
- Changes of State & the Energy Behind Them
Module 2 - Lessons 4-6
- Clouds, Precipitation & the Sky
- Water on Land: Watersheds, Groundwater & Aquifers
- Humans & the Water Cycle: Resources & Data
Practice and completion
- Use worked examples and lesson practice to check understanding after each module.
- Review incorrect answers, explain the correction, and repeat weak skills.
- Complete the available mixed or final course practice to demonstrate readiness.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the key scientific ideas and vocabulary in Earth's Water: Where It All Is.
- Interpret observations, data, models, or evidence related to The Water Cycle: The Big Loop.
- Apply scientific reasoning to questions involving Changes of State & the Energy Behind Them.
- Evaluate explanations and identify common errors about Water on Land: Watersheds, Groundwater & Aquifers.
- Connect Humans & the Water Cycle: Resources & Data with other course concepts in mixed practice.
- Use feedback and answer explanations to diagnose and correct mistakes.
- Complete mixed, exam-style practice with clearer reasoning and greater independence.
📝 Practice Questions
30 interactive questions with instant feedback and explanations.
Enroll for free to unlock the full practice bank after the trial sessions.