Water moves among the atmosphere, land, living organisms, and bodies of water. The water cycle is often drawn as a simple loop, but actual pathways branch and operate over very different timescales. Evaporation and transpiration move water into the atmosphere. Condensation forms droplets, and precipitation returns water to the surface. Some water runs over land; some infiltrates soil and may enter groundwater. Water can also be stored as ice or remain in lakes and oceans. Solar energy helps drive evaporation, while gravity influences precipitation, runoff, and groundwater movement. A raindrop does not have to follow every stage in a fixed order. Land cover, soil properties, and weather affect the path. The diagram is a model for connected processes, not a timetable. Practice: Sketch two possible routes for rain falling on a garden. Include a storage location and explain what could make one route more likely.