How Much Do You Know About Our Water?

The sun is a necessary factor in the water cycle because it provides the energy needed for evaporation. When the sun's heat reaches the Earth's surface, it causes water to evaporate from bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses to form clouds. Eventually, the condensed water droplets fall back to the Earth as precipitation, completing the water cycle. Without the sun's energy, this process would not occur, and the water cycle would not be possible.

Desalination is the process of removing salt and other minerals from water. This is typically done to make seawater or brackish water suitable for human consumption or agricultural use. It involves various methods such as reverse osmosis, distillation, and electrodialysis. By removing the salt and minerals, desalination creates freshwater that can be used for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes where access to clean water is limited.

As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the water molecules also increases. This increased energy causes the water molecules to move faster and collide more frequently with each other and with the air molecules. These collisions result in more water molecules breaking free from the liquid surface and entering the gas phase, which is known as evaporation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the higher the temperature, the higher the evaporation rate.

Queensland receives the highest average rainfall among the given options. This could be due to various factors such as its geographical location, proximity to the coast, and prevailing weather patterns. Queensland is known for its tropical climate, with areas like the Far North and the Sunshine Coast experiencing high levels of rainfall throughout the year. Additionally, Queensland is home to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, which receives some of the highest rainfall in Australia.

Greywater refers to wastewater that is generated from various domestic activities such as washing dishes, doing laundry, and taking showers. It does not include sewage water or clean water. The term "greywater" is used to distinguish this type of wastewater from blackwater (sewage) and freshwater. Greywater can be recycled and reused for purposes such as irrigation or flushing toilets, after appropriate treatment.

An aquifer is a place beneath the earth's surface which can hold water. It is a natural underground reservoir or storage area for groundwater. Aquifers are formed by layers of permeable rocks or sediments that can hold and transmit water. They are an important source of freshwater for wells and springs and play a crucial role in supplying water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry.

Not all clouds produce rain. While rain clouds are responsible for producing rain, there are also other types of clouds such as cirrus clouds or cumulus clouds that do not typically result in precipitation. Therefore, the statement that all clouds produce rain is false.

A rain gauge is used to measure rainfall. It is a simple instrument that collects and measures the amount of precipitation that falls in a specific area over a given period of time. It consists of a cylindrical container with markings on the side to indicate the amount of rainfall in inches or millimeters. When rain falls, it is collected in the container, allowing for accurate measurement and recording of rainfall data. A rainometer, barometer, and thermometer are not specifically designed for measuring rainfall.

The statement that Australia's rainfall is the lowest of all the continents is false. While Australia is known for its arid climate and vast desert regions, it is not the continent with the lowest rainfall. Antarctica, being a polar desert, receives even less rainfall than Australia. Additionally, other continents such as Africa and parts of Asia also have regions with lower rainfall than Australia. Therefore, the statement is incorrect.

Groundwater is found beneath the ground. It is the water that has seeped into the soil and rocks, filling the spaces between them. This water accumulates in underground aquifers, which are layers of permeable rock or sediment that can hold and transmit water. Groundwater is an important source of drinking water and is also used for irrigation and industrial purposes.

The statement is true because the production of a cup of coffee involves several steps that require water. From growing and harvesting the coffee beans to processing and brewing them, water is needed throughout the entire process. Additionally, water is also used for cleaning equipment and utensils used in the coffee production. Considering all these factors, it is plausible that more than 100L of water is required to produce a cup of coffee.

The correct answer is 335 million litres. This answer is determined by selecting the option that states the specific amount of waste water produced each day, which is 335 million litres.

The correct answer for the average Australian rainfall in 2011 is 699mm. This means that, on average, Australia received 699mm of rainfall throughout the year 2011.

The approximate annual water usage per person in Australia is 1.3 million litres. This means that on average, each person in Australia uses around 1.3 million litres of water per year.