Which process in the water cycle involves water vapor cooling and turning into liquid?

The process in the water cycle that involves water vapor cooling and turning into liquid is condensation. This occurs when water vapor rises into the atmosphere, where it encounters cooler temperatures. As the water vapor cools, it loses energy, causing it to transition from a gaseous state to a liquid state. This transformation is crucial in forming clouds, as tiny droplets of water cluster together due to condensation.

In contrast, evaporation is the process where liquid water is heated and turns into vapor, which is the reverse of condensation. Infiltration refers to the process of water soaking into the soil from the ground surface, rather than a phase change in water. Precipitation occurs after condensation when the accumulated water droplets in clouds become heavy enough to fall back to the earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Therefore, condensation is specifically the phase where water vapor changes to liquid, making it the correct choice for this question.